Dental Exams

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

The difference between a dental exam and a dental cleaning is, in one aspect, that during the exam, the doctor is actually looking to see if there are any problems and addressing any concerns, whereas a dental cleaning is specifically just removing plaque or calculus, which is basically hardened plaque, from teeth.

How long does a dental exam take?

It really depends on which type of exam it is. A comprehensive dental exam could take upwards of 30 minutes, depending on how many records we need. You might get an intraoral scan, intraoral photos, a full mouth of dental X-rays, and then the doctor comes in and does his part, looking at every single tooth. That can take longer.

An emergency dental exam could be as simple as 10 minutes, with a single dental X-ray and the doctor coming in and looking at that one tooth and identifying the problem.

How often should you get a dental cleaning and a dental exam?

At Foothills Dentistry, we recommend getting a dental exam at least once a year. Depending on your particular situation, if you have a lot more problems or concerns, you may need an exam more often, but at least once a year.

As far as getting dental cleanings, it's recommended at least every six months. But if you're someone who has more advanced gum disease, or if you have a lot of cavities, you probably need to come in about every four months for a cleaning and get extra treatments like fluoride.

How can a dentist tell if you have cavities?

The two ways are either that it shows up on a dental X-ray, or clinically, you see a tooth has signs of a cavity lesion, which could mean the tooth is turning soft, it's changed color, or the enamel has broken down. On a dental X-ray, it looks kind of like a shadow.

One reason why we need X-rays, and a lot of people ask, "Why are you always getting X-rays? You don't need X-rays," is because cavities in between the teeth, where the teeth touch, we can't see with our eyes, but a dental X-ray could show that.

Do dentists fill cavities on the first visit?

It is definitely a possibility that a dentist can fill cavities on the same day as the exam. It really kind of just depends on the patient's schedule and time and the clinic's time and needs.

How would a dentist know if you need a root canal?

What symptoms your are having can tell a lot about whether you need a root canal. What kind of pain are you having? Is it a sharp nerve pain, or is it a throbbing pain that's keeping you awake at night?

Other things that help me decide are dental X-rays. Do I see signs of infection around the bottom of the tooth? Does the cavity go all the way to the nerve on the dental X-ray? Various signs like that help me determine whether a tooth needs a root canal.

Are dental exams painful?

I have never given a dental exam that was painful to a patient, and they should be pretty painless.

Is there anything you should do to prepare for your dental exam?

I would say there's not a lot you need to do, but some basic things would be to definitely make sure you bring in your updated medication list, any allergies you have, and things like that. That would really help the doctor out in determining what treatments he can do for you.

How do you scheule an appointment for a dental exam?

At Foothills Dentistry, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (706) 480-5580 or email info@foothills-dentistry.com to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.