3 Things Dentists Look for During Dental Exams
When you visit a dental clinic for a regular checkup, several things will take place. One is that a hygienist will clean your teeth. After that, the dentist will visually examine your teeth. The purpose of looking at your teeth is to spot problems that need to be addressed, and here are the top three things dentists look for during dental examinations.
Signs of cavities
One of the things your dentist will look for in your mouth is signs of cavities. A cavity can be small or large, but cavities never start out as large items. They begin with just a speck on a tooth, and a dentist might be able to see this or feel it with a dental tool. The tool used most often is called a scaler, and your dentist will push this inside your teeth to look for stickiness. If there is stickiness in a tooth, it usually means there is a cavity forming in this area.
Signs of gum disease
Your dentist will also look carefully at your gums to detect signs of gum disease. Gum disease is something that affects the gums in your mouth, and it can progressively worsen if left untreated. If your dentist sees redness or swelling around your gums, it can be a sign of gum disease. Dentists can also detect gum disease by measuring your gum lines. If your gum lines are receding more than they should be, it is a sign that you are developing this disease.
Treating gum disease during its initial stages is easier than treating it after it has progressed, and this is why dentists look for the signs during regular checkups.
Signs of oral cancer
Finally, your dentist is likely to perform an oral cancer screening of your mouth. The purpose of this is to look for signs of oral cancer which can occur with anyone of any age; however, people who use tobacco products have a greater chance of developing oral cancer.
Oral cancer has many different looks, but dentists are often able to spot it if they see a suspicious growth in your mouth. If any part of your mouth looks questionable, the dentist might refer you to a dentist who specializes in oral cancer.
These are the top three things most dentists look for when examining your teeth. If you have not visited a dental clinic recently for a checkup, schedule an appointment today with a dentist in your area through resources like http://www.vanyodentistry.com.