Oral Exam

New patients receive a comprehensive examination which includes a screening for oral cancer, gum and bone disease, blood pressure, and systemic disorders. A routine oral exam is performed on established patients to determine any changes in dental and health status since the previous visit.

Your gum tissue is measured with a fine instrument ruler to calibrate in millimeters pocket depth between the tooth and the connective gum tissue around the tooth. Pocket depths more than 4 millimeters could indicate disease and infection. The deeper the pocket, the greater the extent plaque bacteria collects and infection in gum disease develop.

X-rays are taken as needed.

Tooth scaling and root planing occur as needed.

Routine cleanings also include a professional polishing (Prophy) that removes only the soft sticky plaque that is above the gum line.

It is recommended to have dental x-rays taken once a year during a regular dental checkup. Dental x-rays will expose any problems that might be present and can be used to prevent problems that may occur in the near future. Tooth roots, jaw bone and sinuses are all visible with an x-ray, which allows us to detect problems with the bone surrounding teeth and even allow us to see teeth that have not erupted, such as permanent teeth in children or wisdom teeth in adults.

Safe, Digital X-rays
We use modern digital x-rays that use an extremely low level of radiation. Digital x-rays also eliminate x-ray films from having to be developed, which minimizes the time you spend in the dental chair.

During every dental checkup, we will visually check and feel for any signs of oral cancer. We check for signs of visible lesions inside the mouth and gently feel around the jaw for any lumps or swelling that may be present. Many early signs of oral cancer can go unnoticed. We want to make sure that your overall oral health is in great condition.

As time goes by, plaque that is allowed to sit on your teeth eventually hardens into bacteria harboring tartar. Tartar reacts with the foods you eat and leads to tooth decay. Not only that, the bacteria in tartar can start to smell and is a common cause of bad breath.

During your dental checkup, a special tooth scaling instrument is used to effectively remove the hard build-up of tartar. This process is most commonly known as tooth scaling. The scaling will remove tartar build-up on the front and back surfaces of your teeth, just above the gum line. It is also possible for the tartar to work its way below the gum line. When this is the case, root planning, also known as a deep cleaning may, be necessary to remove this tartar from the root of the tooth, or teeth involved.

Rough tooth surfaces are exactly what plaque loves to grab hold of and start hardening into harmful tartar. After your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, we will use a special tooth polishing instrument and a polishing compound to polish your teeth. Tooth polishing effectively smooths the tooth surface, making it difficult for plaque to grab on to. After tooth polishing, you will be able to tell a difference with how smooth your teeth feel, as well as, visibly see they are looking their best.

For children between the ages of 6 and 16, we will generally incorporate a fluoride treatment to help strengthen tooth enamel which can prevent cavities. Fluoride treatments are also beneficial for adults and highly recommended.

Talk to us more about fluoride treatments to see if your teeth would benefit from fluoride.