Dental Exams In Syracuse, NY

What is a dental exam?

Dental exams are recommended once every 6 months, because that's how quickly your oral health can change! A dental examination includes a dentists evaluating your teeth, gums, jaw and neck. The dentist will look for signs of decay, oral cancer, or periodontitis. 

How long does a full dental exam take?

The length of your dental exam depends on the type of exam you're in for. If you come in for your periodic cleanings and have a dental exam done at that time, it's usually pretty quick; within a couple of minutes, your exam will be completed. If you're coming in for a new patient exam, it can take a bit longer because we're gathering more information. Since you're new to us, and we're new to you, we take pictures, x-rays, and perform something called periodontal charting. We still do the full exam that you would see in your routine cleaning, including the oral cancer screening and checking for cavities, bone health, and performing a head and neck exam. This type of appointment can take about an hour to collect all the necessary information.

Is there anything I should do to prepare for my dental exam?

The best way to prepare for a dental exam is making sure you maintain proper homecare. Making sure that you're brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once, and using mouth rinse to help kill bacteria in your mouth are all highly recommended.

How often should you have a dental exam?

Most people should have a dental exam and cleaning every six months. Some patients require more frequent care because they build up more debris on their teeth in a shorter period of time, or they present with more bone loss. Those patients we want to see on a more frequent basis, sometimes three or even four times a year. However, even for those patients, we typically only do the dental exam twice a year.

What is the difference between a dental exam and a cleaning?

The difference between a dental exam and a dental cleaning is that the cleaning is done by the hygienist. He or she will remove any tartar, and any debris around your teeth, flush out any bacteria that gets into the gums, and floss and polish your teeth. A dental exam is done by your dentist, and they check for cavities, bone loss, gum health, and oral cancer. We also perform a head and neck exam to check for signs of any head and neck cancer. We examine your jaw joints to see if there's any shifting, any noises, or other issues. All of that is done during your dental exam.

How should I schedule an appointment for a dental exam?

If you have any additional questions, or if you're ready to schedule that dental exam, give us a call at 315-474-1711 .