Dental examination

What is a dental examination?

A dental exam refers to a part of a checkup of teeth as well as gums. A dentist visit typically comprises three parts:

• A dental cleansing to take out the buildup of plaque (a sticky bacterial film)- which coats a person's teeth.
• X-rays of a person's teeth on certain visits rely on the health of a person's teeth.
• An examination of a person's teeth as well as mouth by a dentist

Dental exams are crucial for protecting person's oral health. Oral health comprises teeth, gums, and all the muscles and bones that let's person smile, speak, and chew. Predominant oral health issues, comprise tooth decay (cavities) as well as gum disease (periodontal disease), can lead to pain, infection, and loss of tooth.

Poor oral health can also impact general health. For instance, losing teeth can cause issues with eating habits and nutrition, which can lead to other health issues. A person can help prevent oral health issues by regularly visiting the dentist and having better toothbrushing and flossing habits at home.

At a dental checkup, a person will be usually seen both by a dentist and a dental hygienist. A dentist refers to a doctor who has special training to care for teeth as well as gums. A dental hygienist is a medical professional trained to cleanse teeth and teach people how to take good care of teeth as well as gums.

Dentists can treat people of all age groups. There are also paediatric dentists who have gained additional training in paediatric dental care.

Alternative names for dental exams: 

• dental checkup
• oral examination 
• oral hygiene
• dental hygiene
• dental prophylaxis

What is it utilized for?

Dental exams are utilized to:

• Clean teeth to aid in preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems
• Detect issues early when they're easier to treat
• Aid people learn excellent ways to care for their oral health

Need of a dental examination

The majority of adults and children need to have a routine dental examination every six months. A person may require more frequent dental exams if they:

• Have gum disease
• Get a lot of cavities
• Have a family history of oral health issues
• Have a health condition that may elevate a person's risk for oral health problems, like:
• Diabetes
• Cardiac ailments
• HIV
• Conditions that impact a person's defence or immune system
• Take medications which make a person's mouth dry
• Smoke
• Are pregnant, which increases the likelihood for gum disease

If a person has swollen, dark red, and/or bleeding gums, tooth pain/ other discomfort in the mouth, they should not wait for a routine dental exam. Reach out to the dentist immediately.

Babies should have their first dental appointment within six months of the eruption of their first tooth or by their first birthday. The majority of babies should be examined every six months.

What happens during a dental exam?

At a typical dental examination, a hygienist cleans your teeth. Then, the dentist examines your mouth. At certain visits, person may have X-rays of teeth prior to the dentist's examination.

Dental X-rays can depict hidden cavities, gum disease, bone loss in the jaw, and other issues that can't be seen by peeping into a person's mouth. 

For a dental cleansing:

The first step is known as "scaling." The hygienist will utilize small metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar from a person's teeth:

Plaque is a film of bacteria which commences to coat person's teeth soon after you eat. Brushing as well as flossing takes out plaque, but not all of it. Scaling gets rid of the plaque which tooth brushing leaves behind.

Tartar refers to a hard substance that can form over a duration of time from plaque that's not taken out from their teeth. Tartar can build up along a person's gumline and cause red, swollen gums (gingivitis). This can lead to more severe gum infections and loss of a tooth. Only a professional dental scaling can take out tartar. And routine professional dental cleanings can prevent it from forming.

Next, the hygienist will polish the person's teeth, utilising a device similar to an electric toothbrush with a rubber tip. The polishing is performed with a special slightly gritty paste.

Post the polishing, the hygienist will floss your teeth.

When needed, the hygienist may put a fluoride gel/foam, or dental sealants to his/her teeth:

Fluoride is a mineral which prevents tooth decay (cavities). Fluoride treatments are given to kids more frequently than adults.

Sealants refers to thin coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They can aid prevent cavities for an array of years by keeping food and bacteria out of the grooves in the teeth. Sealants are mostly utilised in children and adolescents. But adults who have never had cavities in their back teeth may also opt to shield those teeth with dental sealants.

The hygienist or dentist may give tips on how to care for teeth and gums, including the right way to brush and floss.

If dental x-rays are required:

A person's upper body will be covered with a heavy lead apron to shield them from radiation.

The patient will bite down on a plastic piece, and an x-ray scanner will be kept near the person's cheek.

The hygienist will exit the room/stand behind a protective shield to capture the x-ray, which only takes a few seconds.

For the dentist's examination:

If a person had x-rays, their dentist would check them for issues.

Next, the dentist will:

Examine a person's teeth and gums.

The dentist will check a person's bite, which is the way a person's top and bottom teeth fit together. 

Check the person for oral cancer. This comprises looking and feeling for unusual lumps in the mouth, including the lips and tongue. The person's dentist may also check the face and neck.

Preparation for a dental examination

If a person is suffering from certain health conditions, they may need to take antibiotics prior to an exam to prevent infections. 

Few people feel anxious about reaching out to the dentist. If a person or his/her child feels this way, they can discuss this with the dentist prior to the visit. A person's dentist can discuss ways to aid him/her feel more relaxed about getting dental care.

Risks to a dental exam

There is a very minor risk to having a dental exam. The cleansing may be uncomfortable, but it's generally not painful.

Dental x-rays are safe for the majority of folks. The radiation dose in an x-ray is very low. However, x-rays are not advised during pregnancy unless it's an emergency. 

Results

Post-dental examination, the dentist will discuss any oral health issues the person may have and treatment choices. For specific issues, improving a person's brushing and flossing habits may be all that's required.

In a nutshell, Regular dental checkups are vital, even without dental problems.

These examinations should ideally be carried out every six months and involve detecting existing issues, preventing or diagnosing diseases early, and planning necessary treatment to maintain and improve dental health.

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