All You Need to Know About Dental Examination

Most people have the wrong assumption that no pain in their mouth usually means no dental issues. However, often, this is not necessarily true. It is vital to visit your oral healthcare professional for a dental exam at least twice a year, even when you have no obvious dental problems. Routine Jasper Dental Exam is an integral part of proactive oral healthcare. Everyone, including children, teenagers, and adults, need bi-annual dental examinations for better oral health. Below is a simple description of a dental exam.

What is a dental exam?

A dental or oral exam is a routine checkup of your teeth and gums. Specialists advise that everyone gets a dental exam every six months. These exams are vital for protecting oral health; they allow dentists to find tiny problems before they become serious. A dental hygienist or a dentist can perform a dental exam. A dental hygienist is a healthcare professional trained to clean teeth and educate patients on good oral health habits.

On the other hand, a dentist is a doctor who specializes in the care of teeth and gums. Anyone, regardless of age, can visit a dentist, but children often go to pediatric dentists. They are dentists with additional training to focus on children’s dental care.

Why do I need a dental exam?

Dental examinations are checkups that can help find gum disease, tooth decay, and other health problems early when they are easy to treat. They are also important since they help educate people on the best oral practices to ensure healthy teeth and gums. Most adults and children require oral examination every six months. However, if you risk swollen, bleeding gums or other gum diseases, you may need to see your dentist more often. For example, if you have gingivitis, you may need to see your oral health professional three to four times a year. Frequent examinations help prevent gingivitis from advancing to a severe gum disease called periodontitis.

Periodontitis can destroy the soft tissues surrounding your teeth, causing tooth loss.

As for babies, they should have their first dental appointment within the first six months of getting their first tooth or when they are 12 months old. After that, they need an oral checkup every six months, as the pediatric dentist recommends. If the dentist finds a problem with tooth development or any other oral health issue, your child may need more frequent visits.

What happens during a dental checkup?

Usually, a dental exam involves cleanings by a dental hygienist and a checkup of your mouth by a dentist. Sometimes your specialist performs dental x-rays to look for any problems in your mouth. During a cleaning, the hygienist scrapes your teeth with metal dental tools to remove plaque and tartar. They will then floss your teeth and brush them using an electric toothbrush. The hygienist also applies fluoride foam or gel to your teeth to prevent tooth decay. You will then receive tips on how to care for your teeth, including proper brushing and flossing techniques.

If it’s been a while since you had a dental exam, book an appointment with your dentist at Advanced Dental Care of East Texas for a dental exam to improve your oral health.