What a General Dentist Exam Involves

What a General Dentist Exam Involves from Sandston Comprehensive Dentistry in Sandston, VAGood oral care is critical for overall well-being, and adults who routinely visit a general dentist are less likely to have problems with their teeth and health. Visiting a dentist twice per year can help detect and remediate the following conditions:

  • Cavities
  • Gum disease
  • Oral cancer
  • Tooth misalignment
  • Systemic disease

Many people put off visiting a dentist due to fear of the unknown or pain, but in reality, a dental exam involves nothing to fear and is typically painless, as well as being invaluable for maintaining optimum health.

The elements of a routine exam

Visiting a general dentist is similar to seeing other practitioners in that specific protocols are followed. Most visits involve the following steps:

History

The first part of any general dental visit involves taking a thorough medical history. Documenting a patient's medications, illnesses, allergies, health changes, oral concerns, or pregnancy status, can help determine potential treatments.

Cleaning

A certified dental hygienist usually provides a thorough cleaning of the patient's teeth. Special tools allow the hygienist to scrape plaque and tartar from the surfaces and beneath the gum line. Some patients request a topical numbing agent for the gums to reduce sensations, but this is not necessary for most. Tooth polishing and flossing eliminate rough spots on the teeth and residual particles.

Images

A general dentist usually recommends X-rays of the entire mouth every few years, unless there is a history that warrants greater frequency. Low-radiation X-ray imagery is an essential diagnostic tool to examine the teeth roots, the jawbone, and the conditions below the gum line. It detects conditions that are not visible during a surface examination or do not yet cause a patient to experience noticeable symptoms.

Examination

After the dental hygienist cleans the patient's teeth, the dentist interprets the X-rays and examines the patient's mouth and neck for abnormalities and disease. During the exam, a dentist listens for clicking jaw joints and looks for bite misalignment, teeth that show wear, cavities and tooth sensitivity, and hard lumps associated with oral cancer.

Recommendations

A general dentist can help patients prevent various dental problems by making recommendations for brushing, flossing, and other home care measures. Some patients may require more frequent exams to thwart issues that the dentist predicts could cause tooth damage or loss. At times, a dentist may refer patients for advanced treatments for conditions resulting from genetics, illnesses, non-adherence to oral hygiene regimens, or medication side effects.

Why general dental exams are important

Routine dental visits help educate patients about good hygiene habits, manage and prevent oral disease, and address cosmetic concerns. In addition to preventing tooth loss and costly procedures, exams detect many systemic diseases and conditions of the body that initiate in the mouth before they are fully manifest. A dental exam can reveal evidence of lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, leukemia, anemia, various endocrine disorders, and other concerns, enabling patients to receive early treatments.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp:
General Dentist in Sandston, VA

Conclusion

Everyone should regularly visit a general dentist for a simple, painless, and thorough examination. Home care regimens cannot substitute for the in-depth evaluation that occurs during a dental exam.

Request an appointment or call Sandston Comprehensive Dentistry at 804-412-0878 for an appointment in our Sandston office.

Related Posts

When Your General Dentist May Recommend A Deep Dental Cleaning

Visits to your general dentist are done routinely, which for most people is twice per year or every six months. Sometimes, your dentist may recommend a deep dental cleaning. What is that? In this article, we will review what a dental cleaning is and when you might be due for one.Just like spring cleaning in…

Cosmetic Dental Treatments From A General Dentist

Considering cosmetic dental work from a general dentist? Although cosmetic dentistry is its own field, general dentists also offer an array of procedures that can be used to improve the way that the teeth look. There are a lot of different procedures that can be performed in a general dentistry setting. Keep reading to find…

What Sensitive Teeth May Say About Overall Health

The effects of sensitive teeth are not limited to inconvenience during meals. Tooth sensitivity can be a symptom of a bigger problem with the potential to affect your general health. Thankfully, this is not always the case. Keep reading to find out the different causes of tooth sensitivity. Some causes suggest issues that could potentially…

We are participating providers with Delta Dental, and file any out-of-network PPO plans, but cannot file Medicare/Medicaid claims.