The Complete Oral Exam
Have you ever sat in the dentist chair conflicted? You’ve been asked to make a decision about your oral health, but you felt unqualified or that you didn’t have all the information needed to make the right decision? At Longworth, we work hard to eliminate these situations.
Your initial oral exam will educate you about the current state of your oral health, including muscles, joints, bite, teeth, gums and tissues.
The complete oral exam differs from a regular “check-up.” It has three parts that, combined, create a comprehensive exam. It’s like the 2,500-point inspection they do on cars when you are looking to buy, sell or get something major done. You want to know exactly what’s going on everywhere.
Ever felt like the third wheel in the dentist’s chair? The dentist is rhyming off a bunch of jargon about the state of your teeth while the hygienist furiously records the details. It’s like they are having a private conversation, but the subject is YOUR teeth. It may sound a little something like this….“1-8, 2, 4, 3. 1-7, 4, 3, 4. Tooth 1-6, 3, 3, 3, …”
Until I started working in dental practices, I believed that an exam was an exam was an exam. I went to get my teeth cleaned, the doctor popped in and checked stuff out quickly, chatted with my hygienist to see what’s up, told me how things were going and left. I wasn’t sure what that quick check-up was really about, except that at the end, I’d hopefully know a bit about what was going on in my mouth. If everything was good, I’d make my next appointment and leave. If something was going on, I’d need to make a decision around what to do to fix it. Too much plaque? Tighten up my brushing and flossing routine, and maybe come in for more frequent hygiene visits. Cavities? Decide whether to watch it (and perhaps cut down on the sugar), or come in to fill it before it gets worse.
The problem with relying on “check-ups” for a complete view of my oral health is the same as relying on regular oil changes to make sure my car runs.
So, what’s the remedy for this? When do I get to know how I am doing with my muscles, joints, bite, teeth, gums and tissues? The answer is the complete oral exam. It is a tour of your mouth, sort of like the 2,500-point inspection.
It can take between 60 and 90 minutes to do this fact-finding exam, which is a significant investment in time for both you and your dentist. However, this investment is worth it because you will know exactly what is going on with your teeth, gums and smile. You will be able to make an informed decision on how you want to proceed with future treatments or not. Do you want to know what the best options are that dentistry has to offer? Great. Would you rather do nothing for now? That’s also perfectly fine. The important thing is that you are aware of what is going on. This investment in time and money now will set you up for success, so that you have fewer surprises later.
How does it work?
A complete oral exam is recommended when you become a new client, as well as every three to five years thereafter (depending on how stable your oral health is). It has three parts: (1) the pre-clinical exam, (2) the extraoral exam, and (3) the intraoral exam.
The pre-clinical exam is about you, your beliefs and your vision for where you want your dental health to be. Your doctor will ask you questions about yourself, your full body health and your oral health in particular. You might want to get to know your dentist, and this is a good time to ask them about their standard of care and treatment philosophy.
The extraoral exam is where your doctor will look at everything around your smile that could be impacting your oral health. Your dentist will massage the muscles on your temples, jaw, neck and shoulders to see if there is any sensitivity outside your mouth that could be impacting your gum and tooth health. He or she will examine your temporomandibular joint while you open and close your jaw, which can help diagnose issues around your bite.
During the intraoral exam, your doctor will check your soft tissues, muscles, throat and tongue for any indications of oral cancer. If they note anything unusual, they will note it in your chart and review their findings with you. Your dentist will also check your teeth and gums, to understand their structure, form and function. We generally take intra-oral photographs at this time, so that you can see the findings for yourself. He or she will then examine how your entire chewing system works together, by having you demonstrate how your teeth touch and align. Occasionally (for example, if you are looking at smile design), we will also take a 3D scan of your mouth so you can see what is possible for your dentistry. We will also take radiographs at this time, to have a look at the internal structure of your teeth and check for cavities.
Once all the parts of the exam are completed, your doctor will go over all the data and findings with you, so that you are aware of what is going on with your oral health. The important thing is that YOU know what is going on, so that you can make an informed decision on what to do about it. Both you and your dentist will have all the information you need, so you can achieve your goals for your oral health.
