How to Rate Your Dental Examination

Most people are referred to their dentist by a friend or a neighbor and don’t know how to evaluate their dental exam. To help you, here are the key components of a thorough evaluation as well as some interesting facts

An initial dental exam in our clinic is performed by a dentist and typically takes at least one hour for an adult. The exam consists of;

• A review of your medical history;
• An oral cancer screening; include a visual examination and VELscope verification;
• A head and neck examination; palpate jaw and neck muscles for sensitivity and check lymph nodes ―these could be precursors to cancer;
• A temporomandibular joint examination; verify joints for popping, clicking, range of motion and pain ―the dentist may help prevent more serious problems and alleviate pain;
• A periodontal health examination; record bone levels (bone loss) ―verify gingival health including recessions, abfractions, bleeding (infection) ―the dentist measures with a probe which is set up like a ruler to record bone loss. It is very important to monitor and stabilize any ongoing bone loss;
• The detection of cavities; detect cavities with explorer and with Diagnodent when required;
• A dental evaluation; verify wear on teeth, mobility, sensitivity and defective restorations;
• An occlusal analysis; record crowding, cross bites, interferences and take intra-oral photographs;
• A sleep apnea screening; there are many signs in the mouth that point to a possible sleep apnoic patient. A questionnaire also helps the dentist to screen for sleep apnea;
• Digital x-rays; intra-oral bite-wings, periapical x-rays, full mouth panoramic x-ray allows the dentist to check for abscesses, cavities, cysts, tumors, cracked teeth, bone levels, etc.;
• Photographs of the patient's posture and face; bad posture and asymmetrical faces also help screen for dental problems;
• Question and answer period; when the dentist sits down with you to discuss your dental situation, does he/she take the time to answer your questions and lessen your concerns?

• With low levels of fluoride in the water, dentists used to recommend a fluoride supplement for all children to strengthen the enamel and reduce decay up to 40<>percentage<>. The new protocol recommends waiting to see if the child is susceptible to decay. If the child has numerous cavities between the baby teeth, we recommend fluoride supplements like Fluor-a-day to reduce decay on their permanent teeth.
• Early diagnosis of crowding can be treated with an expansion device very easily at a very young age. Cross bites left untreated lead to an asymmetrical face;
• Digital x-rays give 70<>percentage<> less exposure to radiation than conventional x-rays. Digital radiographs produce LARGER photos to better source hard-to-see cavities. You can enhance the image by altering the brightness and contrast and they are environmentally friendly.