A routine examination is at the centre of creating your personal dental plan. It allows your general dentist to clearly define what treatment is necessary for your continued oral health. Sometimes referred to as a “dental check-up”, a routine examination will provide a thorough inspection of the tissues of your head and neck, jaw joints, mouth, teeth, and gums. Identifying any underlying oral health problems such as disease, tooth decay, and cancer.
A routine examination can spot early signs of any irregularities and treat them before they progress further. This is extremely important as many oral health issues are “silent” and go unnoticed.
Most routine examinations will not only involve your general dentist physically looking at your mouth but will also take pictures using X-rays to further evaluate your oral health. This is to check how your teeth line up when you bite, check for cavities, check the positioning of all your teeth and jaw, and check for any abnormalities including bone loss. X-rays will provide a more in-depth look at your situation.
It is important to note, a routine examination will not prevent oral health complications. It assesses your personal situation to build a plan to help prevent problems and improve your overall oral health.