What is a dental exam?

At Lakeridge Dental Centre we want our patients to fully understand all treatments and procedures performed at our office.

One of the most asked questions is about dental exams. What’s the difference?

In this article, we will break it down for you so that you can understand why each dental exam at Lakeridge Dental Centre has its unique purpose.

Comprehensive Exams (COE) NPE

These exams are completed at your first appointment at Lakeridge Dental Centre. These exams are generally required every 3 years due to changes in your oral health and physical health. 

A comprehensive exam consists of a full series of X-rays.  Oral cancer screening, gum disease evaluation and TMJ examination.  A review of underlying health problems, and thorough assessment of each of your teeth.  The goal of the comprehensive exam is for your dentist to establish a baseline for your oral health.  This helps your dentist keep track of any changes in your oral health.  Your dentist will also review your medical history at this appointment. 

Recall Dental Exams 

These exams are performed during a routine hygiene visit. After your hygienist has cleaned your teeth, your dentist will check for any changes or problems in your oral health that may have developed since your last visit. 

Recall examinations are the examinations you will have the most. These exams are important for many reasons. 

Your dentist is checking  for the following;

• changes in teeth or gums (gum disease) 

•previous dental procedures such as fillings or crowns

• cavities developing 

•changes in teeth alignment 

•address any concerns you have 

•dental health affects general health some diseases are often first noticed at regular dental examinations such as diabetes and some cancers. 

•X-rays may be taken if your dentist sees any area(s) of concern 

The recall examination is usually performed every 6 months. This helps to keep your oral health at its best and will help to prevent any major problems in the future. These exams are also very cost-effective as they detect oral health issues before they become more serious.  An important point to remember is dental issues don’t get better they only get worse when not treated.  

Specific Exam

This is an exam your dentist will perform for a specific issue, you are having with your teeth such as a bad toothache, broken tooth etc.  A specific exam is limited to the specific tooth or area of your mouth with the issue.  Your dentist will most likely take an X-ray and then thoroughly evaluate that specific area of your mouth. 

As you can see all of the dental examinations performed at Lakeridge Dental Centre provide important information for your dentist. This allows your dentist to provide you with the best dental care possible. 

Call Lakeridge Dental Centre today to book your dental examination.