Dental Examination, X-rays and Scale and Polish

Dental Examination

During a dental examination, your dentist will thoroughly inspect your teeth, gums, and overall oral health.

This process typically involves:

  1. Visual Inspection – Your dentist will use a small mirror and dry your teeth with air to examine the surfaces of your teeth, looking for any signs of decay, cracks, or other problems.
  2. Gum Evaluation – Your gums will be checked for inflammation, recession, or any signs of gum disease (periodontal disease) using a special probe.
  3. Bite Assessment – Your bite alignment may be evaluated to ensure your teeth are fitting together properly.
  4. Oral Cancer Screening – Your dentist will check for any abnormalities or suspicious areas in your mouth, tongue, and throat that may indicate oral cancer.
A modern dental office with a dental chair, overhead light, dental instruments, and panoramic windows showing a sunny view of a park.

Dental X-rays

X-rays are an essential part of a comprehensive dental examination. They allow your dentist to detect issues that may not be visible during a visual inspection alone.

A dentist wearing gloves points at a dental X-ray displayed on a screen, smiling. A poster is visible in the background.

Here’s what dental x-rays can reveal:

  1. Tooth Decay – X-rays can help identify areas of decay between teeth or underneath existing fillings.
  2. Bone Loss – If you have gum disease, x-rays can show the extent of bone loss around your teeth.
  3. Dental Infection – Painful infections (abscesses) associated with the root of a tooth can be detected using x-rays.
  4. Impacted Teeth – X-rays can reveal if there are any teeth that have failed to erupt properly, such as wisdom teeth.
  5. Developmental Abnormalities – Certain developmental issues, like extra or missing teeth, can be identified through x-ray imaging.

Our practice has technology to take intraoral, panoramic 2D, and CBCT 3D x-rays to thoroughly assess the dental and maxillofacial complex when indicated.

Scale and Polish (Dental Cleaning)

A professional dental cleaning is recommended every 6-12 months to remove built-up plaque and calculus (tartar) from your teeth surfaces.

  1. An ultrasonic scaler is used to break apart and remove deposits of calculus both above and below the gum line.
  2. Your teeth are then polished using a gritty prophy paste to help with stain removal to leave them feeling smooth and clean.
  3. Regular cleans helps to prevent excessive calculus  buildup that can lead to gum disease.

Regular dental examinations, intraoral x-rays and cleans are crucial for maintaining good oral health and detecting any potential problems early, before they become more serious and costly to treat. It is advisable to take proactive steps to achieve and maintain a healthy smile.

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