What happens during an oral exam?
Oral health professionals utilize oral exams to assess the health of a patient’s teeth, gums, tongue, mouth, and more. If you are a new patient, oral exams are a good way to understand what is going on inside your mouth and what needs to happen to promote and improve your oral health. For returning patients, oral exams are essential in maintaining the health of your mouth while analyzing the progress of your dental treatment.
Oral exams are a good opportunity for patients to bring up any issues they might have been experiencing recently or in between appointments. We will be sure to carefully assess any potential conditions during the exam and advise the patient on what treatments might be necessary.
We might order digital X-rays to see what is going on below the surface of your teeth. This helps us determine issues in tooth alignment and placement, infections, and cavities.
What can be determined during an oral exam?
During an oral exam, we are looking for a number of things, such as good oral hygiene habits, possible conditions and issues, and more.
One crucial portion of an oral exam includes oral cancer screening. It is essential to receive regular checks so that any possible issues might be identified early. Early detection paves the way for more effective and less invasive treatments.
What happens after an oral exam?
After an oral exam, most patients receive a thorough and professional dental cleaning. This step is particularly crucial. Though we rely on patients to maintain their dental health through twice-daily brushing and regular flossing, we recognize that the proper tools to maintain oral health are simply not available to the public. Regular dental cleanings are essential in keeping decay-causing plaque and tartar at bay, as well as discouraging gum disease and other conditions.
Following the cleaning, we may talk to you about your oral health goals and dental treatment plan. Particularly if you are a patient coming in with multiple issues — including, but not limited to, periodontal disease, missing teeth, damaged teeth, and other conditions — a treatment plan is essential to mapping out what needs to happen to get your smile back up to speed. We will discuss the options available to you as well as the treatment steps that make the most sense for your goals and lifestyle. We will not proceed with any treatment until we are sure that you understand what needs to happen and that everyone is on the same page.
If it has been a while since your last dental appointment, do not despair. The entire team at Garine Prosthodontics is here for you. We want your smile to be healthy and happy, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to help you reach your smile goals. We use our oral exams and regular appointments to set benchmarks for your oral health. Through regular communication, we are confident we can help you progress along your treatment path and reach the smile you have always wanted. Call us to set up your initial consultation today!
