DENTAL EXAMS & CLEANINGS

A comprehensive dental exam is recommended every six months and will include the following:

  • EXAMINATION OF DIAGNOSTIC X-RAYS (RADIOGRAPHS): 
    Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.

  • ORAL CANCER SCREENING: 
    Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues and gums for any signs of oral cancer. Keep reading for more information.

  • GUM DISEASE EVALUATION: 
    Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.

  • EXAMINATION OF TOOTH DECAY: 
    All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.

  • EXAMINATION OF EXISTING RESTORATIONS: 
    Check current fillings, crowns, etc.

  • PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CLEANING
    Professional dental cleanings are usually performed by registered dental hygienists and will include a dental exam and the following:

  • Removal of Tartar: Tartar is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. This often forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.

  • Removal of Plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums, which is the start of periodontal disease. 

  • Teeth Polishing: Polishing helps remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.

X-RAYS

Dental X-rays are essential, preventive, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information that is not visible during a regular dental exam. 

Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. X-rays expose hidden structures (such as wisdom teeth), reveal preliminary signs of cavities, and show fractures and bone loss.

Without X-rays, problem areas can go undetected. Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort and your teeth!

Dental X-rays may reveal:

  • Abscesses or cysts

  • Bone loss

  • Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors

  • Decay between the teeth

  • Developmental abnormalities

  • Poor tooth and root positions

  • Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line

How often should dental X-rays be taken?

A full mouth series of dental X-rays is recommended for new patients, which is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing X-rays (of top and bottom teeth biting together) are generally recommended once or twice a year to detect any new dental concerns.

Ultimately, the frequency of dental X-rays depends on each patient’s individual needs. Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary X-rays based upon the review of your medical and dental history, a dental exam, signs and symptoms, your age and risk of disease.

Panoramic X-rays

Panoramic X-rays are wrap-around photographs of the face and teeth and offer a view that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. Panoramic X-rays are generally only taken on an as-needed basis.  

A panoramic X-ray is not conducted to give a detailed view of each tooth, but rather to provide a better view of the sinus areas, nasal areas and mandibular nerve. Panoramic X-rays are preferable to bitewing X-rays when a patient is in extreme pain, and when a sinus problem is suspected to have caused dental problems. 

Panoramic X-rays are used to:

  • Assess patients with an extreme gag reflex

  • Evaluate the progression of TMJ

  • Expose cysts and abnormalities

  • Expose impacted teeth

  • Expose jawbone fractures

  • Plan treatment (full and partial dentures, braces and implants)

  • Reveal gum disease and cavities

 

Are dental X-rays safe?

We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment. Digital X-rays reduce radiation 80-90% compared to the already low exposure of traditional dental X-rays.

Even though digital X-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered very safe, dentists still take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation. These precautions include only taking those X-rays that are necessary and using lead apron shields to protect the body.

ORAL CANCER EXAM

According to research conducted by the American Cancer Society, more than 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 7,000 of these cases are fatal. The good news is that oral cancer can easily be diagnosed with an annual oral cancer exam. Around 75 percent of oral cancers are linked with modifiable behaviors such as smoking, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption; when oral cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, treatment is generally very effective. 

Oral cancer is a pathologic process that begins with an asymptomatic stage during which the usual cancer signs may not be readily noticeable – this makes oral cancer examinations performed by the dentist critically important. The most common type of oral cancer is the malignant squamous cell carcinoma, which usually originates in lip and mouth tissues. 

There are many different places in the oral cavity and maxillofacial region in which oral cancers commonly occur, including the lips, mouth, tongue, salivary glands, throat, gums and face.

Any noticeable abnormalities in the tongue, gums, mouth or surrounding area should be evaluated by a health professional as quickly as possible. During the oral cancer exam, the dentist and dental hygienist will be scrutinizing the maxillofacial and oral regions carefully for signs of pathologic changes.

The following will be investigated during an oral cancer exam:

  • RED PATCHES & SORES – Red patches on the floor of the mouth, the front and sides of the tongue, white or pink patches which fail to heal and slow-healing sores that bleed easily can be indicative of pathologic (cancerous) changes.

  • LEUKOPLAKIA – This is a hardened white or gray, slightly raised lesion that can appear anywhere inside the mouth. Leukoplakia can be cancerous, or may become cancerous if treatment is not sought.

  • LUMPS – Soreness, lumps or the general thickening of tissue anywhere in the throat or mouth can signal pathological problems.

Oral Cancer Exams, Diagnosis & Treatment

The oral cancer examination is a completely painless process. During the visual part of the exam, the dentist will look for abnormalities and feel the face, glands and neck for unusual bumps. If abnormalities, lesions, leukoplakia or lumps are apparent, the dentist will implement a diagnostic impression and treatment plan. 

In the event the initial treatment plan is ineffective, a biopsy of the area will be performed. The biopsy includes a clinical evaluation that will identify the precise stage and grade of the oral lesion.

Treatment methods vary according to the precise diagnosis, but may include excision, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

If you have any questions or concerns about oral cancer, please contact our practice.