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The Common Procedures Of A Dental Exam

There are times you go to your dentist because you have specific dental issues you would have resolved, but at other times you just want to have a comprehensive dental exam done to ensure that all is well or otherwise. At other times you may never know what is really troubling you until you have the exam done to find out. There is so much that can be done during the exam and some of the procedures you can expect from your dentist include:

· Evaluation of overall oral hygiene and health

· Evaluation of tooth decay, gum disease and root decay risks

· Evaluation of the need to restore or replace teeth

· Bite and jaw problem checks

· Dental x-rays

· Demonstration of the proper teeth and denture cleaning techniques

A dental exam can also check oral cancers, oral lesions and even TMJ. It is advisable that you consider a regular dental exam just to be sure that your dental health is on point. Apart from also evaluating your health problems and the effects of any medication you are on, an exam can comprise of diet counseling to improve oral health. Your dentist will be able to make recommendations so you are able to maintain good oral environment.

The dental X-rays

They are some of the most comprehensive you can have during a dental exam. The x-rays allow dentists to get detailed images of the mouth, making it easier for them to identify underlying issues and even have an easier time approaching the best treatment procedure. There are different kinds of dental x-rays and yours can depend on what issues you could be facing or what your dentist feels is necessary. It can be frustrating to treat the wrong issues, but with the x-rays, it is possible for dentists to find out exactly what is ailing you and how to deal with it successfully. Below are some of the most common dental x-rays you could have during an exam.

Periapical – It is an x-ray that gives your dentist a sneak peak on an entire tooth and also the surrounding bone. It could be necessary when you have a specific tooth, giving you problems.

Bitewing – It is an x-ray that is necessary when the dentist wants to see upper and lower teeth crowns. The procedure is simple only entailing you biting on a special film holder for images to be taken.

Panoramic – It offers a broad view of the entire mouth and usually is it to verify health condition of the mouth or to pick out any problematic areas that could bring dental issues later.

Occlusal – It is a type of x-ray that lets the dentist to see how upper teeth correspond with the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. Another common x-ray is one that offers 3D view so as to gauge teeth spacing and also the adjacent structures.

Dental x-rays may not always be necessary every time you make a dental visit, but they are definitely safe. You do not really have anything to worry as far as radiation exposure goes but you can always express your concerns before an x-ray is done.