What Does a Dental Exam Consist of?
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, you may not remember exactly what a dental exam consists of. Well, things may have changed over the years, but the end goal is the same: keeping your mouth happy and healthy. So, whether you’re looking around for a new dentist, you have dental insurance, and you didn’t in the past, or you’re just curious about what goes down when you visit a dentist, here is what you need to know about what does a dental exam consist of.
How To Prep For Your Dental Exam?
Before answering the question of what does a dental exam consist of, you’ll want first to know how to prepare for your dental exam. Thankfully, you don’t need to do much prep work to make sure you have the best experience possible.
First, you should know your medical history. Chances are this shouldn’t be a problem, as it did happen to you, but if you’ve been in the hospital or doctor’s office more than a few times since the last time you went to the dentist, you should brush up on this. You should write down any medications you’re currently taking, as some medications do have an adverse effect on teeth and gum health. A dentist will want to determine the cause of these issues, so having a full understanding of your medications is helpful. You should also know what you are allergic to as well. As long as you have all of this covered, you won’t need to do anything else to prep for your dental exam.
Now, if you’re switching dentists, you should obtain your previous dentist’s contact information and provide it to your new dentist. They will want to contact the previous dentist and request your oral history and other files on record. This will help expedite the examination process when you do go in for the dental exam. Generally, when you set up the appointment, they will ask you for this information, so have it readily available when you set up the appointment.
Going Over Your Paperwork
As is the case when visiting any medical office, the dentist will go over your medical history. This includes reading up on any changes that are on file. After going through your records, which will have the latest information about your current bill of health, your dentist will go over the data and ask you some general questions. This will include not only questions about your dental health but also:
- What kind of medications are you taking?
- Are you a smoker?
- Do you regularly consume alcohol?
If you are visiting a new dentist for the first time, the dentist will likely ask you about any previous experience you’ve had with other dentists. This includes any dental work you’ve had. While they will probably see all of this in your X-rays, knowing what to look for is helpful. They may also ask you if you’ve had adverse reactions to anesthesia. This may point to allergies, which your dentist will want to address should you need additional treatments beyond the exam.
Physical Examination
Once the dentist has finished going over all the current information, they will begin the physical examination. They will perform an eye test and look over your teeth visually at this point. They will also take an X-ray of your teeth to get a better understanding of the structural integrity of your teeth and what is going on with the roots. They will also be able to see if there are any potential problems coming up with molars and wisdom teeth coming in. The exact order of this might be slightly different depending on the dentist you visit, but you should expect all of this to take place.
Cleaning Your Teeth
It can take a few moments for the X-rays to be fully processed, at which time your dentist will begin cleaning your teeth. They may also check the sensitivity of your teeth and gums at this time, asking you to tell them if you feel any pain. The cleaning is rather straightforward. They will use small scraping tools to remove tartar build-up, and then they will polish your teeth and, more than likely, go over general flossing and brushing techniques. A large number of dentists will also use ultrasonic cleaning equipment, as this helps shake free tartar and other debris, so they don’t need to scrape as much.
Going Over The Information
Following the dental cleaning and examination, the dentist will sit down with you and go over everything. If there are any concerns or needs for follow-ups, the dentist will tell you this now. If you have a cavity, they will talk to you about this and recommend the next step in correcting the cavity. They might also recommend specific products they feel will help you in this situation. If they have noticed your gums are not as tight around your teeth, they may tell you to use certain kinds of brushes and toothpaste to help with gum health. They might also ask you to stop eating certain foods to avoid further damage to the teeth.
Make An Appointment Today
If you haven’t seen your dentist in the last six months, it is a good idea to schedule a visit. Ideally, you should see your dentist for a routine examination twice a year. A lot can happen inside your mouth during this time, so going on for a checkup will help make sure you stay on top of your oral health and identify potential problems sooner rather than later.
So, whether you’ve been putting off the dental visit for the last few months or you’ve been looking for a new dentist entirely, now is the perfect time to schedule an exam now that you have answers to what does a dental exam consist of.
