Overview
If you want to stay healthy, you need to be proactive with dental problems, and get diagnosed and treated before they become bigger issues. This is why it's important to schedule a dental exam for you and your family. While teeth are checked during a cleaning, a dental exam provides a much more in-depth analysis. Dental exams at SmilesNY Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry evaluate your overall health and oral hygiene, including tooth and root decay, cancer, and your risk or gum and bone disease. One of our highly trained dentists will assess your need for treatments or restorations as well as check your bite and jaw for problems. A series of x-rays will be taken to get better insight into the health of your teeth, jaw, and gums. If you live in or near New York, NY, schedule a dental exam for your family at SmilesNY.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer includes any abnormal group of cells in the mouth, including the gums, jawbone, lips, tongue, throat, and salivary glands. Every dental examination at SmilesNY includes an oral cancer screening to look for early signs including sores, inflammation, lumps, and lesions. Your SmilesNY dentist will also palpate the neck and jaw for abnormalities. If any areas of concern are found, a biopsy may be performed or you will be referred to a specialist for further care.
Dental Exam Reviews
Best Candidates for Dental Exam
New York, NY patients of all ages should get a dental exam every year. Often, people think they are healthy because they don’t feel any pain in their gums or teeth. Many common conditions like gum disease (the biggest cause of tooth loss) do not have symptoms you will be able to detect. The earlier problems are caught, you are more likely to have more treatment options.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children go to the dentist before their first birthday. This can help with problems like using pacifiers, teething, and baby bottle tooth decay. The team at SmilesNY can teach you how to care and clean your baby's mouth so they start healthy habits early — this will also help them throughout their life. Dental exams are also crucial for children as they get older as their mouth develops. While baby teeth will fall out eventually, development issues in the gums and jaw can still occur.
What To Expect
Your appointment will start with an overall evaluation of your teeth, gums, tongue, throat, the roof of your mouth, inside your cheeks, and other oral checkpoints. This includes looking for signs of oral cancer in your mouth. Your dentist or a member of our team will take digital x-rays and screen for abnormal tissue in the gums. Your SmilesNY dentist will also evaluate your head, neck, and jaw, including your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and bite while talking about any concerns found and your treatment options. Your dentist will discuss any health conditions you have, prescriptions you may be taking, and how they might impact your oral health by causing dry mouth and tooth decay. Finally, they will examine any prosthetics you have, like bridges and dentures, to check the fit and wear.
Follow-Up
When to schedule your next exam will depend on your oral health. If no problems are identified, then the only follow-up would be to continue a home oral care routine including brushing and flossing twice a day, along with annual dental exams and bi-annual cleanings at SmilesNY. If your dentist does see something that needs to be treated, options will be discussed and scheduled.
Insurance Coverage
Since a dental exam is so important to your dental health, it is usually covered by dental insurance. Our office will talk to your insurance company to understand your coverage and any out-of-pocket costs. If you do not have dental insurance, SmilesNY accepts many payment options, including medical financing. Our practice works with you to make sure you can afford good oral health.
Annual Dental Exams
True oral health means you don't just go to the dentist only when something is wrong. You have to be proactive with preventive care. It can save your teeth and gums, as well as a significant amount of time and money. We recommend visiting SmilesNY annually for a dental examination. Doing so will enable you to stay on top of problems by catching them early. We work hard to make dental examinations a positive experience for you so you'll enjoy coming back. Contact our office in New York, NY to make your exam.
