Exams & Cleaning

This may be your first visit to the dentist or just your first visit in awhile. Either way you may not know what to expect and you may even be a little nervous. So sit back, relax and let us explain to you what we’ll be doing during this visit.

The first thing we will check during the exam is your face and neck. Checking visually we will look for any abnormalities such as lumps, bumps, or swelling. Checking inside your mouth is next on the agenda. During this part of the checkup we will be looking for any abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers on your lips, gums, tongue, palette, and cheeks.

We will also perform an oral cancer screening and we’ll check your bite and your jaw joints for any problems.

Next, we will check your gums and jawbone as they are the foundation for your teeth. We will check them for any signs of gingivitis, gum disease, and bone disease. Checking your teeth comes next. We will be checking them for any cavities or other problems.

Finally, we will be sure to look specifically at any areas where you may have symptoms or concerns.

In most cases a clinical exam by itself is not sufficient to completely diagnose all potential problems with your mouth. In fact, the majority of problems with your teeth and the jaw bone are not visible to the naked eye, that’s why x-rays play a key role in allowing a better and more accurate look at what is really going on inside your mouth and below your teeth and gums.

A good example of this would be the use of x-rays to better diagnose the destructive periodontal disease. By using x-rays your dentist can check for any bone loss and determine the severity of the gum disease. Based on the diagnosis from the x-ray, your dentist can then determine the proper cleaning or treatment you may require.

In addition to revealing any problems that were not visible during the clinical exam, these initial x-rays will also provide your dentist with a benchmark with which to compare against during your future visits.

If you have any additional questions, please consult your dentist.