Dental Exam

Beachwood, OH

Dental exams are a part of your regular six-month visits. While we often refer to these visits as dental cleanings, we do more than simply clean your teeth. In fact, the exam part of the visit can be more important than the cleaning if you are dealing with oral health complications or if we find signs of oral cancer or other diseases. Our team here at Aspire Dental Spa is dedicated to keeping all of our patients healthy, and that starts with an oral exam.

Why Are Oral Exams Important?

Oral exams are one of the most important things we do for our patients. Many people are unaware of the signs of oral cancer and other major oral health conditions, especially those conditions that are painless. This is why many people do not realize that they are suffering from gum disease until it has progressed. If there is no pain, it is easy to ignore the issue.

If you come in for regular exams every six months, however, we will be able to identify the signs of gum disease and other conditions that you may not be aware of. We can begin taking steps to address those conditions. This can prevent future pain, reduce the cost and time needed to treat these conditions, and prevent permanent damage. In the case of oral cancer, it can even save your life.

What Happens During An Exam?

During your exam, we will carefully check over your entire mouth. We will use a number of tools, including bright pen lights and mirrors, to visually inspect your teeth, gums, tongue, and the inside of your mouth for lesions, cavities, and other damage.

We generally do oral x-rays once a year. During this process, we will take images of your lower face. This allows us to see the positioning of your teeth and your jawbone. We often do several different types of x-rays, including bitewing images and full-mouth x-rays. Bitewing x-rays, which allow us to look for cavities and other issues with your teeth, are done yearly. We may only do full-mouth x-rays every couple of years.

Of course, the exam is only one part of your six-month checkups. We will also do a deep cleaning during this time. This involves removing the plaque and tartar from your teeth, professionally brushing and flossing, and applying a fluoride treatment.

How Often Should You Have An Exam?

You should come in for an oral exam every six months. However, if you notice anything odd with your gums, teeth, or mouth in general, you can always call and schedule an exam at any time. We may also have you come in for a follow-up exam after certain dental procedures. If we notice anything concerning during a regular exam, we may ask that you come back sooner than normal to monitor it.

All adults should have six-month exams and cleanings. Children, too, should begin coming in every six months once their baby teeth begin coming in. At times, we may need our young patients to come in more often for various reasons, such as monitoring the eruption of their adult teeth.

If you have not been in to see us within six months, or if you have a concern about your oral health, we want to see you. Contact Aspire Dental Spa at (216) 342-4388 today to schedule an appointment.