Maintaining proper oral hygiene requires more than just brushing and flossing twice daily. You also need routine visits to the dentist at least twice a year for a dental exam. Regular dental exams are an essential piece of preventive dentistry and can give important insights into your overall health. Since most dental health problems are preventable, it’s vital to visit your dentist for routine dental care. That way, you can intervene early with dental issues while they’re minor and more affordable to treat.
Dental Exam Process
Here’s what to expect during an oral exam:
- Dental X-Rays: We recommend x-rays based on your overall oral health. Dental X-rays help us detect abnormalities not visible to the naked eye. They can help locate cavities, examine wisdom teeth, and check that any tooth restorations are intact.
- Evaluate Teeth, Gum, and Joints: During the next part of the dental exam, we’ll examine your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), soft tissues like the insides of the lips and cheeks, the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the area underneath the tongue for any issues.
- Oral Cancer Screening: Like any form of cancer, oral cancer can be a severe health risk if not diagnosed early and dealt with immediately. During oral cancer screening, we’ll examine the jaw, neck, tongue, cheeks, inside the lips, and the roof and floor of your mouth for early warning signs of oral cancer such as red or white patches, mouth sores, or lumps. We’ll also examine your throat and neck for lumps.
- Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: If dental issues are detected during examination, we will discuss this with you, review the following steps and determine what dental treatment option makes the most sense.
How Long Does a Dental Exam Take?
A routine dental exam appointment can last around 45-60 minutes.
How Do I Prepare for a Dental Exam?
In preparation for your dental checkup, you only need to know your medical history, radiation history, and allergies before coming in for your dental exam.
Are Dental Exams Painful?
No. Routine dental exams aren’t painful. At Smile Solutions of Maine, our priority is ensuring you’re comfortable, so be sure to communicate with our dentists if you experience any discomfort during your appointment.
Dental Exams in Winthrop and Waterville ME
At Smile Solutions of Maine, our dental professionals are happy to go over every step of your dental visit with you and won’t rush you along. With state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, your visit will be as comfortable as possible, and we’ll help you determine a treatment plan that best suits your needs. Contact us today to schedule your dental appointment!