Review your history
Tell us about symptoms, previous dental care, health changes and the concerns you want addressed.
Prevention & diagnosis
Dental Exams & X-Rays
Routine and problem-focused dental exams help us understand the health of your teeth, gums, bite and existing dental work.
How we approach it
Start with the diagnosis, then choose the treatment.
An examination may include a review of your dental and medical history, evaluation of teeth and restorations, gum and bite assessment, oral soft-tissue screening and dental radiographs when clinically indicated.
Care may include
- New-patient and recall examinations
- Problem-focused and emergency examinations
- Dental X-rays when clinically indicated
- Assessment of teeth, fillings, crowns and other restorations
- Gum, bite and jaw screening
- Oral soft-tissue and oral cancer screening as part of appropriate examinations
What to expect
A simple, step-by-step process.
Examine and image when needed
The dentist evaluates the areas that matter and recommends X-rays only when they add useful diagnostic information.
Discuss findings
We explain what we found, what appears stable and which items may need monitoring or treatment.
Questions about exams & x-rays
Common questions.
These answers are general. Your dentist can give you advice that is specific to your situation after an assessment.
Do I need X-rays at every visit?
No. The need for dental radiographs depends on your age, history, symptoms, risk factors, previous images and current clinical findings.
What happens at a new-patient exam?
The exact visit varies, but it commonly includes a history review, examination, appropriate imaging and a discussion of findings and next steps.
Do dental exams include an oral cancer screening?
Appropriate dental examinations include evaluation of the oral soft tissues. If something unusual is found, your dentist can explain whether monitoring, additional assessment or referral is recommended.
Appointments
Have a question about Exams & X-Rays?
Call the clinic or request an appointment. We can help determine whether an assessment is the right next step.
