Dental Exam
Columbus, Ohio

Question

What Are Dental Exams?

A dental exam allows us to take a closer look at the structures within your mouth.

We recommend that you have at least two exams a year. These exams are typically done during the same appointment as your dental cleaning.

Accepted Answer

We will check everywhere inside your mouth, checking for signs of damage, decay and gum disease.

With an exam, we can spot oral health issues, which might otherwise go unnoticed, in their earliest stages.

By finding these issues, we can then take immediate action before they become serious.

Types of Dental Exams

There are several different types of dental exams:

•	Comprehensive dental exam. This type of exam is performed if you are a new patient. It is also done if it has been a while since your last appointment. These exams typically involve taking x-rays.
•	Periodic dental exam. This is your regular 6-month exam. During this exam, we take a close look at the inside of your mouth and update your information from your previous visit. These exams do not always involve x-ray images.
•	Limited dental exam. This type of exam is done when we are trying to diagnose the cause of specific symptoms that you are experiencing. X-rays may be taken.
•	Follow-up dental exam. This type of exam is done after you have had a dental procedure. These exams are done to make sure that you are healing properly and allow us to monitor your progress.

How We Perform Your Exam

Much like a dental cleaning, a dental exam is a fairly straightforward process.

We start by looking at all visible structures of your teeth. We look at your teeth for signs of damage and tooth decay.

If you have any restorations; crowns, veneers, fillings, dental implants, bridges; we will check the condition of these as well.

We also look at your gum tissue, checking for signs of gum disease, such as redness and swelling.

Part of your dental exam involves an oral cancer screening. We look at the other tissues within your mouth and check your face and neck for signs of swelling.

When we have completed our visual inspection, we will then have a discussion with you regarding your oral health.

We will ask you about your oral hygiene habits, as well as any habits (such as smoking or drinking) that you may have.

We can provide you with tips on how to improve your at-home care and answer any questions that you might have.

What About Digital X-rays?

X-rays are an integral part of your dental exam.

They may not be taken at every visit, but they provide us with an in-depth look at the structures we are not able to see, such as between your teeth and below your gumline.

With digital x-rays, we can monitor the health of your mouth, and provide treatment as soon as we notice anything wrong.

Take a Step Towards Better Dental Health Today!

Dental exams are essential for finding oral health issues in their earliest stages and treating them right away. To schedule your dental exam, call Raptou Family Dental at (614) 427-0449 today.