To maintain a healthy mouth, it is essential that you brush and floss your teeth every day. It is also important that you have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months. These oral hygiene habits are crucial for the prevention of serious oral health issues, including cavities and gum disease. Despite practicing good oral hygiene, however, issues can still occur. Moreover, in the early stages, many oral health issues often do not exhibit any symptoms. By the time you notice any symptoms, the issue has progressed into something worse. At Elmwood Dental, we perform professional dental exams, which allow us to detect oral health issues in their earliest stages, allowing us to take action right away.

What Is a Dental Exam?

A dental exam is a procedure in which we check over the condition of your mouth, checking for signs of oral health issues, including cavities, gum disease, tooth damage, and more. Regular dental exams are recommended every six months and are generally performed in the same appointment as your regular professional cleanings. We can detect the presence of oral health issues in their earliest stages, allowing us to provide you with prompt treatment to prevent more serious complications from occurring.

Types of Dental Exams

Regular dental exams are an important part of maintaining your oral health, but sometimes issues arise that need to be addressed. To diagnose the cause of your issue and provide you with the proper treatment, an exam is needed. There are a few different types of exams that may be performed.

How Is an Exam Performed?

An exam is a straightforward procedure. We begin by looking over the visible structures in your mouth. We check your teeth for signs of decay, cavities, and physical damage such as chips and fractures. We look at your gums for signs of redness, swelling, periodontal pockets, and recession. We also take a close look at your intraoral tissues, checking for signs of abnormalities that could point toward oral cancer.

During some exams, we may take x-rays. With x-ray images, we can see hidden parts of your mouth, including the spaces between your teeth and the areas below your gum line. We can spot cavities, root fractures, bone loss, monitor tooth and bone development, and more.

Once we have finished looking over your mouth, we also take the time to discuss with you. We go over any issues that we may have discovered and talked about your treatment options. We discuss your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. We also make sure to take the time to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have.

What Are the Benefits of a Professional Exam?

Professional dental exams provide some significant benefits. These include:

Regular dental exams are essential for helping you to maintain the health of your mouth and preventing early oral health issues from becoming something more serious. To schedule your next dental visit, call Elmwood Dental at (833) 432-1457 today.