Visiting the dentist near you every six months may seem too much, especially when you think you do not have any problems. Yet, patients are unaware that oral health issues can develop and progress quite fast. Dental examinations allow the dentist to diagnose oral health issues early. Then, they are treated before they become severe and affect your overall health.
3 Types of Dental Exams
A dentist will carry out any of the exams below depending on individual needs.
- Comprehensive Exams
Comprehensive exams are conducted at the initial checkup. They help the dentist establish a baseline reading of your entire mouth. Your dentist’s findings will help note changes in your oral health during routine dental exams. It is repeated after several years or when the need arises.
The exam includes:
- A series of or x-rays
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ examination
- Periodontal disease evaluation
- A thorough assessment of individual teeth
- Regular Dental Exam
These exams are carried out every six months to check for issues that may have come up since the previous exam. The dentist checks your gums and teeth for any problems. Intercepting oral problems early reduces the chances of a dental disease becoming severe. During this exam, you should let your dentist know of any concerns you might have.
- Limited Exam
This exam focuses only on the area that has an issue. For instance, after breaking a tooth, the dentist will only evaluate the tooth and gums around the tooth. The dentist will take a single x-ray of the tooth and gums to assist in diagnosis and treatment.
What Happens During a Dental Examination?
Here is what to expect when attending dental exams at Family Care Dental. The dental team will:
- Check your oral hygiene and systemic health
- Assess the risk of dental decay, periodontal disease, and bone disease
- Carry out diagnostic procedures, including x-rays
- Evaluate the necessity of tooth restoration and replacement
- Assess the bite for misalignment issues
- Clean your teeth and remove stains and calcified deposits
- Administer fluoride treatment
- Educate you on proper cleaning methods for your teeth, braces, or dentures
Benefits of Dental Exams
Here are reasons to encourage you to attend routine dental exams without fail.
- Detection of Oral Cancer
The dentist near you will screen for this cancer during your regular dental examinations. This part of the exam is vital since, if detected early, the cancer is treatable. Your neck, gums, tongue, cheeks, lymph glands, and gums are examined carefully. In addition, the dental professional will use the hands to check for lumps and white or red patches inside the mouth.
Comprehensive diagnostics are carried out for patients who are at a higher risk of cancer. They consist of imaging scans, special mouth rinse, and light, which help detect cancerous lesions. If the diagnoses indicate the possibility of cancer, treatment begins immediately.
- Keeping Periodontal Diseases in Check
During the dental exam, the dentist will evaluate your gums where they meet your teeth for redness, tenderness, and swelling. Gum disease starts when plaque and tartar build-up on teeth due to poor oral hygiene and get into the gums. Gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, sets in. If it is detected early, it can be reversed. But if not treated, it leads to an infection known as periodontitis.
The gum disease causes teeth loss and can also spread to other parts of the body to cause stroke and cardiovascular diseases. So, during the exam, the dentist or dental hygienist will clean out all tartar and plaque deposits on your teeth and gums. Then carry out further diagnoses such as measuring the grooves between your teeth and gums and dental x-rays.
- Detection of Systemic Health Issues
A dental examination will allow the dental professional to detect oral health problems connected to the whole body. Your dentist can detect issues such as rheumatoid arthritis early. Leukemia and diabetes can be detected first during routine dental exams. When such problems are detected, your dentist will refer you to your primary physician.
- Addressing Minor Dental Issues Quickly
Part of a dental exam consists of taking preventive measures against oral health and dental issues. First, the dentist will thoroughly examine the teeth and soft tissues for any problems. If found the problems are quickly resolved before they become severe. For example, plaque is removed from the tooth before it leads to a dental cavity. A cavity may need a root canal procedure.