Dentists and Comprehensive Exams

If you think of checkups when you think of visits to dentists, you may never have had a full comprehensive exam. These go far beyond the routine cleaning and x-rays. If you are scheduling a comprehensive dental exam, here is what you can expect.

First, dentists typically check your head and neck. During this check, they will look for signs of potential problem. They will check the jaw to make sure it is functioning properly, check your lymph nodes for any unusual swelling or other problems, and check your salivary glands. Your dentist will also look at your face, including your lips, to ensure nothing looks unusual. If he notices anything unusual, such as dryness on your lips or swelling of your lymph nodes, he will advise you as to further steps you need to take to look for the cause of these problems. In some instances, he will perform further checks to rule out any dental issues.

The exam will also include a check of the gums and bones that support the teeth. Dentists are looking for signs of gum disease during this exam, which is known as a periodontal examination. Your dentist will use a small tool to measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums. Pockets that are too deep are an indication of gum disease. 

A comprehensive dental exam will usually include an inspection of your bite, known as an occlusion screening. If your teeth do not fit together properly, you can suffer from problems with your jaw. Orthodontists can help realign your teeth if the problem is severe enough.

The soft tissue in your mouth will also be checked. Dentists routinely screen for oral cancers or other similar problems in the roof of the mouth, lips, cheeks, and the floor of the mouth. You may not even realize that your dentist is checking these areas when he starts to poke around inside your mouth, but this is a very important part of the exam. Finding problems in these areas early ensures they can be treated before they turn into life threatening health conditions. 

One of the most obvious parts of a comprehensive exam is the actual examination of the teeth. In addition to any x-rays your dentist thinks need to be taken, he will also check each tooth using dental instruments to check for decay. Each tooth will be poked with a special tool, known as an explorer, to check for softer tissue, which is a sign of decay.

Finally, your comprehensive exam may include x-rays. Dentists use these to see decay or other oral problems that they cannot see visually because they occur deep within the teeth. X-rays are painless and are quite helpful to your dentist as he assists you in maintaining your oral health. At the end of your comprehensive exam, you will have a good indication of how healthy your mouth and teeth are, and also step by step guidelines for steps to take to keep your teeth healthy and deal with any problems that were found. You should try to have a comprehensive exam every year.