Oral Examinations
Regularly schedule oral exams, ideally administered twice each year, give your dentist the chance to identify oral health issues as or before they arise and create a plan to provide you with treatment.
During your exam, your dentist will take a close look at the health of your gums, jaw, teeth and bite alignment. This exam may also include an oral cancer screening procedure and dental X-rays among other appropriate diagnostic procedures.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth or surrounding tissues. During your exam, your dentist will check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer which are difficult to detect with the naked eye.
Oral Health Care at Home
To keep your smile as healthy as possible between dental appointments, make sure that you are brushing your teeth at least twice each day for two minutes at a time and flossing at least once every day too.
Hygiene Cleaning
Either before or after your exam, your dental hygienist will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums to prevent and treat diseases.
To start, they will use a special scaler to remove tartar and plaque that may have built up since your last cleaning. Then, they will use coarse toothpaste and polisher to remove leftover stains or plaque, followed by thorough flossing of your gums and teeth.
Fluoride Treatment
If either you or your child has a high risk of tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can help to rebuild the minerals found in your tooth enamel to prevent or reverse tooth decay.
