A comprehensive or complete oral exam is a detailed exam of your gums, teeth, jaw, mouth and overall oral health. This type of oral exam employs meticulous diagnostic strategies to ensure that all oral conditions are diagnosed. A complete oral exam takes place every 3 – 5 years or at the first visit to a new dental office. This type of exam is more comprehensive than the check-up exam performed during a dental cleaning. A comprehensive oral exam can identify oral issues due to the detailed nature of the exam.
What To Expect During A Comprehensive Oral Exam
- Creating a new or updated medical or dental history snapshot (detailing medical conditions, current medications, allergies, etc.). Often, your overall health and oral health are connected.
- Discussing and addressing your chief dental concerns.
- Performing an extraoral exam which includes checking the lips, cheeks, lymph nodes, etc. for abnormalities.
- Checking the temporomandibular joint, which is the jaw joint, for potential issues such as clicking or deviation.
- Checking teeth for signs of wear due to clenching/grinding or acid wear.
- Intraoral exam, which includes checking the gums, tongue, the roof of the mouth and throat for any abnormalities.
- An oral cancer screening .
- Updating the “odontogram” which is the tooth chart. Any dental fillings, missing teeth, dental bridges, dental implants, dental crowns, etc. are documented in your patient file.
- Charting any active decay, chips, fractures, etc. of the teeth.
- Taking or updating the periodontal measurements, which are measurements of the gums around each tooth. The periodontal exam is the best indication of the health of the gums.
- Taking x-rays to assess the health of the teeth and the level of the supporting jawbone. As well as checking the condition of past restorative work.
- Reviewing proper oral home care.
- Providing any required referrals to specialists such as a periodontist or endodontist.
- Formation of a treatment plan for any restorative or cosmetic dental work.