Oral Examinations
Routinely scheduled oral exams, ideally occurring twice each year, give your dentist a chance to identify oral health issues and to make a plan to treat them accordingly.
During your exam, your dentist will take a close look at the health of your teeth, gums, jaw and bite. Exams may also include dental X-rays, an oral cancer screening and other diagnostic procedures.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is capable of affecting any part of the mouth or surrounding tissues. During your exam, your dentist will check your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat and gums for any signs of oral cancer which may otherwise be quite difficult to detect.
Oral Health Care at Home
In order to keep your smile healthy between your scheduled dental appointments, make sure that your brush your teeth twice each day for two minutes at a time and floss your teeth at least once each day.
Hygiene Cleaning
Before or after your exam, your dental hygienist will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums to prevent and treat disease.
To start, our dental team will use a scaler to remove any tartar and plaque that may have built up in your smile. Next, they will use a polisher and coarse toothpaste to remove any of the leftover stains or plaque in your smile, followed by a thorough flossing of your teeth.
Fluoride Treatment
If you or your child has a high risk of tooth decay, your dentist may also recommend a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can help to rebuild the minerals in your tooth enamel to prevent or reverse tooth decay.
