Different Types of Dental Examinations: Which One is Right for You?

It’s important to have regular dental examinations so that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy, but it can be hard to know which exam is right for you.

Here are different types of dental exams that can help meet your needs depending on what type of care you need:

1) Preventative/Comprehensive Exam – A preventative dental exam focuses on detecting signs of decay or damage to the mouth before they become major problems. This includes looking for cavities, checking existing fillings and crowns, assessing gum health with an oral cancer screening and x-rays if needed.

In addition to helping prevent future issues with your teeth, a preventative exam also helps maintain good oral hygiene habits by teaching proper brushing techniques as well as flossing and other measures for preventing cavities and bad breath.

2) Periodontal Exam – A periodontal exam is focused solely on evaluating the health of your gums by measuring their depth around each tooth (called pockets). Your dentist or hygienist will use special instruments such as an ultrasonic scaler or probes to measure these pockets in order to determine if any areas require further attention due to gum disease or infection.

If so, then specialized treatment may be prescribed such as deep cleaning sessions called scaling and root planing in order to restore healthy levels of bacteria in the mouth.

3) Emergency Exam – Emergency exams are used when patients experience sudden pain or unusual symptoms within their mouths that require urgent attention from a qualified professional such as tooth trauma from an accident causing broken/chipped teeth or excessive bleeding from swollen gums caused by severe infection.

During this kind of exam the dentist may need to perform more advanced procedures like root canal therapy or surgery depending on the severity level of the issue at hand so they can alleviate both immediate pains felt now while providing solutions for long term success with maintaining optimal oral health later down the road too!

It’s important to keep up with your dental health and visits, especially when it comes to preventive check-ups. The frequency of your exam should vary depending on both your age and oral health status, as different stages of life can require more frequent visits.

For children, it is recommended that they visit a dentist at least twice per year starting at around the age of two years old or within 6 months after their first tooth emerges; this is to ensure they are developing healthy teeth as well helping them build positive dental experiences early in life.

As adults age past 21, exams should typically occur once every six months unless otherwise recommended by their dentist in order for them to maintain healthy gums and teeth.

If you have any existing dental issues like gum disease or cavities then more frequent exams may be needed; if there’s an infection present we recommend visiting a dentist as soon as possible! If you have braces or wear dentures then these instances may also require more regular visits due to the additional care needed for those specific cases.

Lastly, make sure you communicate clearly with your dentist regarding any medical conditions or medications which could affect how often you need an exam so that they can help provide the best personalized advice and treatment plan for you!

Our Oral Cancer Screening

At River District Smiles Dentistry, we also offer an oral cancer screening for all new patients as part of their initial visit. This is an important test that can help us detect signs of oral cancer before it progresses into something more serious.

During the screening, one of our dentists or hygienists will visually examine your mouth and throat for any signs of red or white patches, sores, bumps, or other abnormalities. They will also use a special light to detect any suspicious areas that may not be visible to the naked eye. If anything abnormal is found during the screening process, we may recommend further testing or refer you to an oral surgeon for additional evaluation.

Make Regular Dental Exams Part of Your Healthcare Routine for Optimal Oral & Overall Health!

We understand how important it is to detect issues early, and our oral cancer screening process ensures that you receive the best care possible. Thank you for choosing River District Smiles Dentistry for your dental needs.

We look forward to helping you achieve optimal oral health! Call us for an appointment!