What You Should Know About a Dental Exam

Regular dental exams and cleanings are important because they focus on avoiding and minimizing oral health problems. Routine cleanings and check-ups play an important role in keeping your gums and teeth healthy. A healthy mouth helps protect the whole body from severe medical disorders. Monitoring your oral health can detect early signs of existing issues with your overall health that can go unnoticed. Having a dental exam in Orlando is the first step to having a healthy mouth. Here you get oral hygiene habits and possible cosmetic procedures for your teeth.

What To Expect During A Dental Exam

During a dental exam, the dentist asks about medications and problems you have and discuss how they can affect your health. For example, if you have diabetes, you are at risk of having gum disease. Medications that cause dry mouth can put you at risk of having tooth decay. If arthritis or other problems slow down your ability to brush your teeth, your hygienist or dentist can show you how to use an electric toothbrush or show you how to put a toothbrush handle in a rubber ball to make grasping easier.

If you have replacements, such as bridges and dentures, your dentist will examine how they fit and discuss their adjustments. Dental exams also include the following:

Dental X-ray. This allows the dentist to view some sections of the mouth to aid in diagnosing problems not visible during the exam. X-rays are not always required at each dental visit, and your dentist will discuss the need for X-rays depending on the risk of disease and oral health.

Oral cancer exam. During a dental exam, the dentist looks for signs of oral cancer. They feel the area inside your lips, cheeks, sides of the neck, and under the jaw, and also examine the roof and floor of your mouth and sides of your tongue.

Why Dental Exams Are Done

Dental exams protect not only your oral health but also your overall health. For example, signs and symptoms of systemic diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, can appear in your mouth first. If your dentist finds signs of a disease, he will suggest you see your doctor. Dental exams allow your dentist to detect oral health problems early and provide ways of caring for your teeth.

How Often Should I Have A Dental Exam?

Two dental exams a year are recommended for most affected patients. In a typical check-up, a dentist and a hygienist attend to the patient. The hygienist polishes and cleans the teeth, gives you tips on caring for your teeth, and answers all your questions. The dentist checks the cleaning, conducts an oral exam of your teeth and gums, diagnoses other oral problems, orders X-rays if needed, and recommends treatment. Dental exams are important not only for cleaning, but to detect any oral health problems early when they are most treatable.

Dental exams are important for your oral and overall health. If you want a professional dental exam and cleaning, visit Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. The dentists here discuss your diet and demonstrate better flossing and brushing techniques. Please schedule an appointment with them today and get the best oral treatments.