Dental Exams

Dental exams are essential to oral health as well as physical health. Skip your dental exam and you really are that much more likely to suffer an oral health malady that leads to another health problem away from your mouth. If you have not had a dental exam in the past six months, it is imperative you schedule an exam and cleaning as soon as possible. The longer you wait to have your oral health analyzed, the more likely you are to suffer a serious problem that proves costly, painful and frustrating.

There is No Reason to Fear Dental Exams

Most dental exams and cleanings are nowhere near as painful as patients typically anticipate. Oftentimes, patients who have not been to the dentist in a year or longer have an irrational fear of dental treatment due to a negative experience in the past. Do not let a bad experience in the dentist's chair alter your perception of dental care. Meet with our dentist and we will treat your teeth and gums in as gentle a manner as possible. The exam will likely reveal the presence of plaque and/or bacteria that will be subsequently removed.

Our dentist will also analyze your mouth for indications of damage, decay, and cancer. The dentist will take a close look at your tongue, throat, neck, head and face for indications of cancer such as redness or swelling. We will even take x-rays to determine if there are cavities hidden between the teeth or any issues with your mouth/jaw.

Dental Exams Identify and Prevent Tooth Decay

There is a common misconception that six-month dental exams are unnecessary as daily brushing and flossing will suffice. Flossing and brushing are certainly important, yet they do not properly protect teeth. You can floss and brush three or four times per day and still end up with plaque and tartar. Plaque is the translucent layer of sticky bacteria that develops along the teeth in between visits with the dentist.

If plaque is not removed, it will harden to the point that it becomes tartar. Tartar cannot be removed with regular flossing and brushing. If tartar and plaque buildup along your teeth, you will be that much more likely to end up with an oral disease. The assistance of a professional dental team with highly specialized instruments is the only means of removing the buildup of plaque and tartar.

Dental Exams Analyze the Teeth as Well as the Gums

The dentist will also check your gums with a specialized tool. This tool gauges the depth of space between the gums and teeth. If your gums are healthy, this space will prove shallow. Those who have gum disease are likely to have a much deeper space between their teeth and gums.

Dental Exams Provide an Early Diagnosis of Oral Health Problems

Time is of the essence in the context of oral health. If the signs of oral cancer, cavities, gingivitis, and other oral health problems are not identified as soon as they arise, your oral health will dramatically decline. The dentist will analyze your oral health for signs of brewing trouble ranging from sensitivity to hot/cold beverages or pressure to loose teeth, halitosis and swollen/red gums. The dentist will also take a look for red or white spots to determine if a biopsy should be taken. Fail to meet with the dentist for a dental exam and you will have no idea if any of these problems are occurring in your mouth. The last thing you need is to let oral cancer spread, threatening the entirety of your oral health when it a quick and painless visit to the dentist's office could have identified such a glaring issue right away.

Important Oral Health Advice

Meet with the dentist for a comprehensive oral health exam and you will receive valuable advice about oral health. The dentist will ask you about your oral hygiene habits, provide helpful advice, discuss your diet and possibly even delve into your exercise routine. The little-known truth is lifestyle changes really can facilitate the challenge of maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

Avoid an Invasive Treatment

Skip your six-month dental exam and you are more likely to be subjected to an invasive treatment at some point down the line. Though root canals are not as painful as most assume, you can avoid such an invasive treatment by visiting with the dentist every six months for a comprehensive exam. The dentist will identify cavities as early as possible to treat the problem before it wreaks havoc on your mouth. If your cavities are not treated in a timely manner, they will eventually spur significant tooth decay along with infection that can lead to the loss of a tooth.

Dental Exams Present the Opportunity to Beautify Your Smile

If you do not visit the dentist, your smile's beauty will gradually deteriorate. Aside from cleaning your teeth, the dentist will also provide advice and ways to enhance the beauty of your smile. From teeth whitening to veneers, Invisalign that straightens crooked teeth and beyond, there are all sorts of ways to beautify compromised teeth. However, there is no way to know which method is ideal for your unique teeth unless you meet with the dentist for a thorough analysis.

Frequency of Visits

Most patients should visit with the dentist once every six months for a comprehensive oral health analysis and cleaning. However, patients with a litany of oral health problems or even one significant oral health challenge will find it is necessary to meet with the dentist every couple of months. When in doubt, ask your dentist what the optimal frequency of visits should be. Follow this oral health expert's recommendation. Those who smoke, are diabetic, pregnant, saddled with gum disease, susceptible to cavities or have a weak immune response to infections are classified as high-risk. Such patients will likely have to visit with the dentist every two to four months for an oral health exam.

Schedule your dental exam at the office of Dr. Lance Ogata, DDS. If you have skipped your dental exam, don’t feel embarrassed. There is still time to rectify your oral health issues, return your mouth to a healthy state and bring out the best in your smile. Come meet Dr. Ogata and our dental health professionals - we're here for those who have not been to the dentist's office in six months as well as those who have not been to the dentist's office in several years. Give us a call at (808) 707-7445 to schedule an appointment.