Dental Examination In 3 Steps

Image via Wikipedia

Dental Examination in 3 Steps – Dentist Exam

Typically, a dental exam is scheduled once a year.  A dental examination usually includes a clinical dental examination, bitewing or similar x-rays and a teeth cleaning.

What should you expect?

Your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, mouth and throat.  This includes both internal and external structures.  Sometimes, a brief orthodontic examination may be performed as well.

1. The head and neck examination typically takes dental exams a step further than traditional checkups.   The dentist will likely examine your facial structure and symmetry, which includes palpitation (using fingers to feel the structures) of chewing muscles and lymph nodes.

Furthermore, the dentist will normally perform a cancer screening and examine your Temporomandibular joint to make sure that everything is properly aligned.

2. A clinical dental examination, the main focus in any periodic dental exam, includes screening for gingivitis and periodontal pockets.

Tooth mobility, mucus membranes, saliva, and occlusion (bite) are almost always examined as well. Your dentist will also look for tooth decay, broken fillings, erosion, and assess the contacts between teeth.

3. Finally, the dental cleaning procedure will begin.   This starts with an overall assessment of mouth cleanliness, identification of specific areas of calculus (tartar) buildup and then scaling with sonic or non-sonic hand instruments.

After all tartar has been removed, the final steps include polishing or brushing of the teeth, flossing, and oral hygiene instructions given by the dental care professional servicing you. Many times, you may also be administered a topical fluoride treatment.

If one has orthodontic appliances, such as braces or a retainer, there is a possibility that a brief orthodontic examination may occur, as well.

Though typically performed by an orthodontist, a general dentist can also check the pressure of your arch wire, monitor your bite and the rate of its correction, and make sure that your retainer is continually doing the right things to maintain straight teeth.

The dentist may also recommend a teeth whitening regimen if you just recently had your braces removed.  This is usually done with teeth whitening kits, or even take-home teeth whitening gel. While professional teeth whitening may sometimes be a necessity, at home solutions tend to work just as well for most patients.

After completing the full dental examination and cleaning, your dentist will likely outline a detailed treatment plan – should one be deemed necessary.

They will also schedule a follow-up appointment with you, typically six months to a year from the present date, if no definitive restorative treatment is necessary before then.

Regular preventive maintenance, along with a home care regimen, will be crucial in maintaining good oral health.

A typical home care regimen might include brushing your teeth two or three times daily, flossing, using an antiseptic mouth wash and brushing or scraping your tongue each day to minimize colonization of disease-causing bacteria and prevent bad breath.

By: Paul Guenther
Teeth Cleaning

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!