Dental Check-Ups and Dental Exams
You may assume you should have a dental check-up every 6 months, but some people may not need to go so often and others may need more frequent checks.
Your dentist should suggest when you should have your next check-up based on how good your oral health is.
The time between check-ups can vary from 3 months to 2 years, depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are and your risk of future problems.
Is there a difference between a dental exam and a dental checkup?
Most of the time there is no difference, with the exam usually completed as part of your teeth cleaning appointment. The exam and cleaning are two distinct procedures, but when done at the same appointment, they are typically referred to as a “checkup.”
Advantages of receiving a dental exam
They:
- Allow your dentist to monitor your oral health.
- Give your dental team an opportunity to review your eating, brushing, and flossing habits.
- Help your dentist detect signs of any problems so they can be treated before getting worse.
- Promote better overall health, as poor oral health has been linked to other conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Procedure of a dental exam
At a typical dental exam, a hygienist will clean your teeth. Then the dentist will examine your mouth. At certain visits, you may have x-rays of your teeth before the dentist examines you.
Dental x-rays can show hidden cavities, gum disease, bone loss in your jaw, and other problems that can’t be seen by looking in your mouth. Ask your dentist how often you need x-rays.
For a dental cleaning:
- The first step is called “scaling.” The hygienist will use small, metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar from your teeth:
- Plaque is a film of bacteria that begins to coat your teeth soon after you eat. Brushing and flossing removes plaque, but not all of it. If you let plaque build up on your teeth, it can cause cavities and destroy the tissue and bone around your teeth, leading to tooth loss. Scaling gets rid of the plaque that tooth brushing leaves behind.
- Tartar is a hard substance that can form over time from plaque that’s not removed from your teeth. Tartar can build up along your gumline and cause red, swollen gums (gingivitis). This can lead to more serious gum infections and tooth loss. Only a professional dental scaling can remove tartar. And regular professional dental cleanings can prevent it from forming.
- Next the hygienist will polish your teeth, using a device like an electric toothbrush with a rubber tip. The polishing is done with a special paste that’s slightly gritty.
- After the polishing, the hygienist will floss your teeth.
- When needed, the hygienist may apply a fluoride gel or foam, or dental sealants to your teeth:
- Fluoride is a mineral that prevents tooth decay (cavities). Fluoride treatments are given to children more often than adults.
- Sealants are thin coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They can help prevent cavities for many years by keeping food and bacteria out of the grooves in the teeth. Sealants are mostly used in children and teens. But adults who have never had cavities in their back teeth may also choose to protect those teeth with dental sealants.
The hygienist or dentist may give you tips on how to care for your teeth and gums, including the right way to brush and floss.
If dental x-rays are needed:
- Your upper body will be covered with a heavy lead apron to protect you from radiation.
- You’ll bite down on a piece of plastic and an x-ray scanner will be positioned near your cheek.
- The hygienist will leave the room or stand behind a protective shield to take the x-ray, which only takes a few seconds.
- You’ll repeat these steps a few times to get x-rays of all your teeth.
For the dentist’s exam:
If you had x-rays, your dentist will check them for problems.
Next, your dentist will:
- Examine your teeth and gums.
- Check your bite, which is the way your top and bottom teeth fit together. If you have a bite problem, you may be referred to an orthodontist.
- Check you for oral cancer. This involves looking and feeling for unusual lumps in your mouth, including on your lips and tongue. Your dentist may also check your face and neck.
After Results
After your dental exam, your dentist will discuss any oral health problems you may have and your treatment options. For certain problems, improving your brushing and flossing habits may be all that’s needed.
If you or your child has a cavity or a more serious problem, you’ll probably need to make another appointment with the dentist to treat it.
