Page 5 - Boyne Dental E-Mag

Full dental examination is a standard process during which your dentist will investigate the de-
tails of your general oral health in order to identify your concerns and develop a customized treat-

ment plan while meeting your goals and expectations. First the dentist will take an x-ray of your
mouth where he or she will check if there are any abnormalities below your visible gum line before
moving on to look for issues with jaw alignment, teeth grinding and oral cancer, this involves biting
down on a piece of specially designed plastic while an x-ray imaging machine is placed against your
cheek. The resulting image will show the visible parts of your teeth as well as the roots below the
gum line and your jaw bones, allowing your dentist to see exactly what is happening in your mouth.
Generally, your dentist will feel your jaw bones from outside of your mouth while you bite down to

ensure that your bite is smooth, aligned and there is no clicking or popping from your jaw points.
The dentist will also inspect the grooves of your teeth to see if any of them have been cracked or
smoothed down due to grinding or jaw clenching. Finally, your dentist will gently feel behind your
jaw and your neck to see if there are any signs of oral cancer.

What the dentist can detect during dental exam:

 Deterioration of fillings, crown, bridges and other treatments.

 Cavities between teeth, under the gum, on the root exposed by receded gum and cavities un-
der restorations.

 Periodontal pockets caused by gum disease .

 Cracked and fractured teeth.
 Impacted wisdom teeth.

 First signs of gum disease.
 First signs of cancers of the mouth.

 Signs and symptoms of other problems that could harm the health in general.

Once all of this is done, your dentist should have a full understanding of what your oral health needs
are and will be able to prescribe any necessary treatments to prevent or treat your issues. After the

dental exam is complete, your dentist will let you know exactly what is going on in your mouth and
will advice you about next steps. Sometimes this involves scheduling another dental appointment
for a procedure while other times your dentist will give you advice about what you can do at home
to better your oral health.