Healthy Smiles for the Entire Family

Comprehensive Exams

Comprehensive Oral Examination In Winchester, VA

At this appointment we do a very detailed and thorough dental examination. Consider it a physical from the neck up. Your examination will include:

Medical history/review
Blood pressure check
Full charting of your existing dental work
Muscle and joint exam for any patients with jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) problems
Comprehensive screening for oral cancer including an exam of your oral soft tissues, your glands and lymph nodes
Radiographs
Full mouth charting of your gums

BITEWING RADIOGRAPHS

We will often take x-rays during your comprehensive exam. These most commonly include bitewing radiographs. Bitewing radiographs are also known as “cavity detection” x-rays, because the most common spot for cavities to form, are in between your teeth, where we cannot see directly. Bitewing radiographs allow us to see in between your teeth for detection, and monitoring, of small beginning cavities that do not yet require a filling. We take new bitewing radiographs yearly to monitor that the small beginning cavities do not get any bigger. This approach allows us to be conservative, and we can sometimes avoid the need for fillings.

PANORAMIC OR FULL MOUTH SERIES RADIOGRAPHS

Occasionally we will take a Panoramic or full mouth series of x-rays. For our relatively healthy patients this might not be necessary. But for our patients that have been without dental care for a long time, or patients with root canals, missing teeth or signs of infection, a full mouth series of x-rays are generally recommended. If you need your wisdom teeth (third molars) removed, a panoramic x-ray is normally preferred. If you suffer from any joint issues, a panoramic x-ray might also be recommended to evaluate for any arthritis changes.

PERIODONTAL CHARTING

Finally, we perform a complete full-mouth charting of your gums. A vital component of a proper dental exam is checking for and monitoring any gum disease. We do this by measuring “attachment loss”. Click here for more information about attachment loss and periodontal disease. We want to make sure your teeth have the appropriate bone and tissue support to allow for proper oral and systemic health. Scientific evidence links poor gum tissue health with diabetes and heart disease.

TREATMENT PLANNING

We will then give you recommendation for treatments, discuss options and answer any questions you might have. Together we will establish where you want to go with your care. We will always tailor treatment to meet your specific needs and expectations.