When you have a dental examination, you get complete assurance that all of your dental needs are going to be brought to your attention. You may not have been to the dentist for 6 months, 2 years or longer.
Whatever the case, a full examination will give you peace of mind that on the next visit you will know exactly what to expect.
Your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your teeth, gums and mouth, looking for signs of disease or other problems. Our goal is to help maintain your good oral health and to prevent problems from becoming serious, by identifying and treating them as soon as possible.
One of the primary diagnostic tools we use at EDC is dental X-rays. While taking X-rays is the actual process we use to obtain images of your teeth, the actual images are called radiographs.
Your individual schedule for periodic radiographs depends on many factors, including age, prior history, and certain dental conditions.
If you can’t remember the last time you had X-rays taken, it’s probably time to give us a call to determine whether you’re due (or long overdue!) for a new set.
There is only so much of your teeth and gums that we can see through a visual examination. However, X-ray images can alert us to all types of conditions, such as tooth decay between teeth or under existing fillings, gum disease, bone infections, abscesses, problems with teeth formation, and even tumors.
When we can identify these types of problems in their early stages, we can save you pain, discomfort, money and extended care in our clinic.
Discovering serious conditions, such as tumors, may very well save your life, so the small amount of radiation that you are exposed to during the X-ray process is minimal when compared to the benefits of having them taken!
There are a number of traditional dental X-rays that are taken inside the mouth. They include:
X-rays are usually taken according to a schedule and not at every visit.
This is one of those questions that really depends upon your health history and the dentists’ recommendations. While some people come in for a cleaning and examination like clockwork, say every six months or so, others may wait up to a year between visits.
There are some reasons that warrant a more aggressive routine dental appointment schedule. More frequent visits are usually advised when patients have an increased risk for oral disease based on age, pregnancy, heavy alcohol and/or tobacco usage, the presence of gum disease, or pre-existing health conditions (e.g., diabetes, frequent dry mouth or a compromised immune system).
An open and frank discussion with the dentist can help you determine how often you should schedule routine cleanings and examinations.
At our practice, we help all ages of people with a variety of oral health needs. The best way to ensure you don’t need dental work in the future is to combine regular dental check-ups with effective at-home care. To do this, we recommend that our patients come in every six months for a regular cleaning.
Each of our patients receives an oral hygiene package, including:
• An instruction sheet on oral hygiene and other dental material
• A soft-bristled toothbrush
• Samples of recommended toothpaste