Complete Oral Exams in Westport, CT
When you visit Advanced Dental of Westport, CT for the first time, our dentist will conduct what is known as a complete oral exam. A complete oral exam is a diagnostic dental assessment that is performed by a dental professional to gather relevant data and information regarding your oral and overall health. During your oral exam, our dentist will look for signs that point to potential underlying problems.
Besides your first appointment, you’ll also need to schedule complete oral exams every few years to keep your records updated.
What’s Involved?
During your complete oral exam, our dentist in Westport, CT, will be checking the following:
- Missing, damaged, or decayed teeth
- Condition of your previous dental restorations, including dental crowns and fillings
- Early signs of cavities
- Early signs of oral cancer
- Bite problems
- Signs of bruxism or tooth clenching/grinding
- The overall health of your temporomandibular joint
The overall health of the bones surrounding your oral cavity
Besides visually inspecting your mouth, our dentist will also be interested in your medical history to understand any pre-existing health conditions that you may have. The dentist will also perform a check of your neck area, including feeling your lymph nodes to detect signs of inflammation or swelling. We may also need to take dental x-rays. These will help us to see any problems that are hidden to the naked eye.
If you require any dental work, our dentist will create a personalized treatment plan for you.
Preparing for Your Oral Exam
You can prepare for your complete oral exam by requesting a transfer of dental records, where this is possible. Remember also to make an updated list of your current medications so you can share this with our dentist.
We understand that patients often struggle with dental anxiety. We’re here to help. Complete oral evaluations aren’t painful, and neither are they invasive. Let us know if you’re feeling anxious. Our friendly team and compassionate dentist are always ready to offer the support that you need to go through the oral exam successfully.
For returning patients, complete oral exams are conducted every three to five years, depending on your health. In between, you must come in for regular dental exams every six months so our dentist can monitor your dental health.
Dental exams allow our dentist to detect problems before they escalate into more significant issues. The earlier you catch a dental problem, the less invasive and expensive the treatment. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.