Dental Exam Oral exams are an important aspect of preventive dentistry just like dental cleanings. Since a huge number of dental problems can be prevented, it is crucial that you get your oral cavity, including the gums, jaw, teeth, and other structures regularly checked for disease, infection, or malformations. When a dental problem occurs, it is best treated when it is in the initial stages. Visiting us regularly at Jerome Riddle DDS ensures that oral problems are caught early and dealt with before they wreak havoc on your teeth and gums or bone.How Long Does an Oral Exam Last?Our dentist can complete a dental exam within 45 to 60 minutes. The exam also includes teeth cleaning. However, for children, dental exams and cleanings tend to be shorter. The time it takes for the dental exam may also be influenced by the age of the patient, their health, and the regularity of dental exams. Each dental exam may have a different length of time to perform. If you had a comprehensive exam recently, your routine exam may only take a short time. What to ExpectThere are common aspects that are seen in almost every dental exam. For instance, it is common for the dentist to clean your teeth when you come in for an oral exam so that you head home with teeth, free of plaque and tartar. This is the time when the plaque and tartar you are unable to remove with regular brushing and flossing, our professionals are able to take care of it. During the exam, our specialist checks for tooth decay, oral cancer, gum infection, cavities, and other irregularities in the mouth. The dentist will ask about any chronic disease or medical conditions you may be struggling with. We may also inquire about your lifestyle and habits, to determine if they may be posing threats to your oral health. If you consume alcohol or smoke tobacco, you have increased odds of developing oral problems like gum infection, decay, tooth loss, or oral cancer. The dentist will do X-rays to check parts of the mouth not visible to the naked eye. Dental X-rays help look for bone loss, decay, periodontal disease, and other oral issues, which may be present, though they do not feature any symptoms or signs. Types of Dental ExamsPeople with healthy gums and teeth should visit us for dental hygiene and care based on their needs. However, our dentist will advise patients on how frequently they should be seeing us for dental cleanings and exams. Comprehensive exams are done every couple of years and they feature things like gum disease evaluation, screening for cancer, X-rays to check for cavities and decay, TMJ exam, and proper assessment of individual teeth. Additionally, you should have routine exams twice a year, or every six months. If you have a particular problem that our dentist is monitoring or dealing with, you will have what is termed recall exams. You have recall exams when you receive dental implants, have severe toothache under treatment, or have a broken tooth. Visit us at Jerome Riddle DDS to find out more about dental exams. Schedule an appointment by contacting us at 480-991-4410. |
