What Happens During a Dental Examination?

Preventive dentistry relies on a heavily regular dental examination. The sooner you address your dental problems, the less damage they can do to your teeth and the less money you'll have to spend on fixing them. Regular visits to the dentist for checkups and x-rays are essential since it is easier to avoid most issues affecting your mouth if caught and addressed early.

This evaluation is the first step in providing dental care, including diagnosis, planning, execution, and assessment.

Why is a dental examination critical?

Dental examination detects oral health issues that are simpler to treat, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems. The tests also inform patients about the ideal dental and gum care practices.

Most adults and kids should visit the dentist every six months. Your dentist can ask to see you more frequently if you have gingivitis, which characterizes swollen, bleeding gums or other gum diseases. A dentist may need to see certain persons with gum disease three or four times a year.

What happens during a dental examination?

A standard dental examination consists of cleaning by a hygienist, perhaps an x-ray, and a dentist's analysis of your mouth.

Step 1: Cleaning

As the name suggests, professional cleaning is one of the things a dentist does during a regular checkup. It aims to clean the teeth of tartar and plaque. When plaque hardens after staying on teeth for a long time, a yellow or brown substance called tartar occurs. You can get rid of plaque by regularly brushing and flossing, but you can't get rid of tartar that way. Over time, it will make your teeth look yellow and give acid-making bacteria a place to live.

Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is a great way to keep your teeth looking good and free of decay. The dentist will scrape tartar off the teeth with a metal instrument as part of the cleaning process. After cleaning the teeth, the dentist will floss and polish them.

Step 2: Visual Examination

An essential aspect of every dental exam is a thorough visual examination. The dentist will carefully inspect the patient's teeth during the process to check for any indicators of oral health problems. Early detection is essential because it is often easier to treat dental issues when caught early. Depending on the dentist's findings, you may require further treatments during your visit.

When caught early, one can successfully treat and beat oral cancer, but it has a high mortality rate. The dentist will check the mouth, jaw, and neck for any problems. A dentist is often the first doctor to notice changes in your oral health that could indicate cancer.

Step 3: Assessment of Fluoride Requirements

During the examination, the dentist will evaluate your requirement for fluoride. A fluoride treatment becomes necessary if your teeth risk developing cavities. An adequate amount of fluoride can provide six months' worth of cavity protection. The dentist might also suggest using a fluoride varnish or a dental sealant as further preventative measures.

Step 4: Bite Inspection

Dentists also check the bite and tooth alignment. The dentist may take an impression of the teeth or use X-rays to see what's happening underneath the gums. If the dentist notices a problem with your bite, they will suggest treatments to fix it.

Conclusion

Going regularly for dental examinations is a crucial part of preventative care. When you visit the dentist for a dental exam, they'll clean your teeth and check for signs of decay or gum disease.

One of the best methods to keep your teeth in good shape is to visit the dentist every six months. When did you see the dentist? Please get in touch with us to learn more about our dental care.

 Contact your Walnut Creek dentist, Massood Darvishzadeh at Walnut Creek Dental, to know about dental examination.

Resource:

What Are Dental Exams And X-Rays?

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.