It is essential that individuals take ownership of their dental health. One of the most important things that any man or woman can ever do is to have regular dental exams.
Being proactive in this area reduces the risk of serious complications developing without the patient's awareness. Waiting until a serious problem to arise guarantees discomfort, time lost in treatment, and sometimes very exorbitant costs.
Most people should schedule a regular dental exam every six months. However, patients with periodontal disease, or other serious issues, may need to see the dentists more often.
If you think this may be the case for you, ask your dentist.
Each examination consists of a series of standard steps. There may also be additional steps necessary based upon current dental health, patient overall health, previous dental case history, or past medical history such as major surgeries.
Of course, the dentist goes over all of these things with the patient in the beginning. He or she examines the patient's chart and answers any questions that the patient may have. If any special treatments or procedures are determined necessary, the dentist will discuss these options early on in the examination so the patient can be fully informed regarding all of his or her choices.
During a regular dental exam, the dental hygienist thoroughly cleans the patient's teeth. This is necessary in order to remove the plaque and tartar from teeth. This rides the mouth of the many bacteria that cause gum disease. It also helps dentists to better see the surface areas of teeth and examine them for any signs of possible decay or damage.
If teeth are discolored or pitted, the dentist will also polish them to in order to smooth their surfaces and to remove light stains.
A regular dental exam includes a careful visual exam of mouth tissues as well as teeth. Dentists look for decay on the biting surfaces of teeth. They also check for signs of wear, cracking, and anything that may have gone wrong with a previous dental restoration such as fillings or crowns. They also check for any signs of abnormal tooth
Finally, they look to see if any abnormal loss of tooth structure has occurred.
In addition, dentists examine the color and skin condition of the gums. Red, swollen gums are often indicators of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Dentists use a periodontal probe to check the depth of spaces between the teeth and gums. Readings deeper than 3 millimeters typically indicate periodontal disease.
Dentists also check for any sores or lesions on the soft tissues of the mouth and screening them for signs of oral cancer.
They also take x-rays of your mouth that show us decay between and inside the teeth. X-rays also help them locate tartar on teeth and teeth roots, and they often indicate signs of periodontal disease, such as the loss of bone around the teeth.
Other problems like cysts and abscesses are also detectable by x-ray.
Dentists may also examine the jaw joint to help diagnose problems with patient bite or TMJ.
Before the patient leaves, either the dentist or the hygienists recommends a homecare routine and recommendations for dental nutrition.
Regular dental are important because they allow dentists to detect problems early? or to prevent them altogether.
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