What Are Dentists Looking for During a Routine Exam?

February 27, 2023

Getting a routine exam with a dentist should happen about every six months depending on your oral health. During your exam, a dental hygienist will evaluate your smile as will a dentist.

But what exactly are these professionals looking for during a routine exam? Here’s what your dentist will check during your appointment.

Tooth Decay

Since early tooth decay generally doesn’t cause symptoms, one of the best ways to identify cavities in the making is with a routine dental exam. Your dentist will carefully check each of your teeth for evidence of decay, which can present as unusually white areas on the teeth or dark areas that look like stains [1]. Part of checking for cavities typically includes x-rays, as these allow your dentist to identify decay in areas they can’t see with their eyes alone.

Gum Disease

Your dental team will also check for evidence of gum disease. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, can be identified by red or irritated gum tissue that is pulling away from the teeth. However, your dentist will also check the pocket depth between your gums and your teeth to evaluate gum health and diagnose gum disease. A pocket depth of between one and three millimeters is considered normal [2].

Oral Cancer or Lesions

Whether or not you smoke or use tobacco products, your dentist will conduct an annual oral cancer screening during your regular appointment.

This screening is painless and involves your dentist checking the inside of your mouth for any unusual coloring or lesions. Your dentist will also feel the side of your face, neck, and jaw for any lumps or bumps that could be indicative of oral cancer.

Dentists are often the first professionals to come into contact with oral cancer, and will let you know if they find anything suspicious during your exam [3].

Checking Salivary Glands and Tonsils

Did you know your dentist can check your salivary glands to determine if you have dry mouth?

During your exam, your dentist will gently palpitate your salivary glands to determine if you have adequate saliva flow, as dry mouth is a risk factor for oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral thrush.

Your dentist will also check your tonsils to be sure they are not infected or do not show any signs of irritation that could indicate illness.

Bone Loss in Your Jaw

If you are missing teeth and haven’t had them replaced, some missing bone in your jaw is to be expected. However, bone loss in the jaw can also result from arthritis, osteoporosis, and jaw or facial injuries.

X-rays allow your dentist to see if you are lacking quality bone in your jaw, which could be an indication of an underlying health problem, especially if you are not missing any natural teeth.

Keeping your jawbone strong and healthy is important for a beautiful smile!

Don’t Skip Your Next Checkup!

A dental checkup is an excellent opportunity for your dentist to evaluate your oral health and for your hygienist to do a professional cleaning to keep your smile healthy. So don’t skip your next dental checkup—it may just save your smile!