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Dental Exams & Check-Ups
What Happens During a Dental Exam at Woodmen
First, the dentist will ask about the patient’s general as well as their oral health, for they can impact each other. For example, if a patient has diabetes, they run a higher risk of periodontal disease. Medications that cause dry mouth, or xerostomia can put a patient at higher risk for cavities. The dentist also checks dentures, bridges and implants, asks about the patient’s diet and whether they smoke.
If Our Dentist doesn’t have X-rays of the patient’s mouth or if something has changed, they order X-rays. There are several types of X-rays, including those that let the dentist see the crowns of the teeth, those that reveal the whole tooth and the bone around it, X-rays that let the dentist see the patient’s bite or panoramic X-rays that show both the upper and lower jaws. X-rays can find problem areas that even the dentist wouldn’t be able to see just from a visual examination. These include abscesses, wisdom teeth, tumors and areas of deep decay.
The Dentist may also have the patient make a dental impression to get a three dimensional impression of the patient’s bite. The patient just bites down on trays filled with gel.
When it comes to saving lives with Dental exams in Colorado Springs, the dentist or the dental hygienist will check for oral cancer during your checkup. This means looking for suspicious spots or lesions in the mouth and palpating areas of the patient’s head and neck.
Afterwards,
After a Dental Check-Up, Our Dentist recommends ways for the patient to support their oral health and suggests a time for a return visit. If the patient has conditions such as gingivitis, cavities or other problems, the dentist will recommend that they return sooner rather than later.