18 Nov Dental Exams – Why and What to Expect

With the stress of preparation and anticipation, it is rare to find someone who enjoys exams. However little did you know that often when you are sitting in the chair at your dental office, your dentist is performing one of the most critical exams to your overall health. When your dentists comes to check your teeth after the hygienist, he or she is not just checking over the work of his team member but is in fact checking for critical factors about your oral health.

With a trained eye, your dentist is often looking for signs such as:

• early signs of cavities
• damaged, missing or decayed teeth
• condition of your gums, inflammation or other signs of gum disease
• to see how previous dental work such as root canals, fillings and crowns are holding up
• early signs of mouth or throat cancer, such as white lesions or blocked salivary glands
• other suspicious growths or cysts
• position of your teeth with spacing and/or biting
• signs that you clench or grind your teeth which can cause ear or jaw aching
• signs of bleeding or inflammation on your tongue and on the roof or floor of your mouth

Your dental team will also ensure to look into your medical history. Knowing about your full health conditions will help them to assess and determine the success of any potential dental treatments or procedures.

During your dental exams, x-rays will also most often be necessary. These can show such problems as cavities under existing fillings, fractures, impacted wisdom teeth, decay under your gum line and bone loss caused by gum disease.

Remember, that you are a partner in achieving your optimal oral health. So be open with your doctor and inform him or her of any concerns or questions that you have with your dental health.