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New Patient Exam
Dental Exam
A clinical exam is more commonly referred to as a routine check up.
This check up lets your dentist essentially take inventory of the
overall health of your mouth and teeth and diagnose any potential
problems you may have.
A. The first thing your dentist will check during the exam is your
face and neck. Checking visually, your dentist will look for any
abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps or swelling.
B. Checking inside your mouth is next on the agenda. During this
part of the check up your dentist will be looking for any
abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers
on your lips, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks. Your dentist will
also perform an oral cancer screening and will check your bite and
your jaw joint for any problems.
C. Next your dentist will check your gums and jawbone, as they are
the foundation for your teeth. Your dentist will check them for any
signs of gingivitis, gum disease and bone disease.
D. Checking your teeth comes next. Your dentist will be checking
them for cavities and other problems. Finally, your dentist will be
sure to look specifically at any areas where you may have symptoms
or concerns.
X-rays
In most cases a clinical exam by itself is not sufficient to
completely diagnose all potential problems with your mouth.
In fact,
the majority of problems with your teeth and the jawbone are not
visible to the naked eye. That is why x-rays play a key role in
allowing a better, and more accurate look at what is really going on
inside your mouth and below your teeth and gums. By using x-rays
your dentist can check for any bone loss and determine the severity
of the gum disease. |
