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Comprehensive oral exams can save your life
Your oral health is our top priority. Oral exams include more than just your teeth, but your gums, tongue, lips, throat, and jaw as well. At our family dentistry in Cary, a comprehensive oral exam is an extensive evaluation that gives both you and your dentist important information about your teeth and gums. This evaluation is more thorough than a routine cleaning.
What is included in a comprehensive oral exam?
Not every dental check-up is a comprehensive oral exam. It is important to have documentation of your oral health so we can track changes over time. Comprehensive oral exams include a thorough cleaning, gum evaluation, bite evaluation, fluoride treatment, oral cancer screening, intra-oral camera photos, and digital x-rays.
How does a comprehensive oral exam work?
During your exam, we will examine your teeth and tooth surfaces for signs of decay, cracks, or other problems. Likewise, we perform a gum evaluation checking both your gums and the bone around your teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
With every comprehensive oral exam, we perform an oral cancer screening – you will have your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums examined for any signs of abnormalities. We also take and examine x-rays to find signs of decay, tumors, cysts, and/or bone loss. X-rays help us determine tooth and root positions, giving us an in-depth look at the structure of your mouth and a comprehensive view of your oral health. Although oral cancer screenings can seem unnecessary to some patients, it’s important to remember how these sorts of screenings can save lives. This year, an estimated 53,000 adults (38,140 men and 14,860 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. As with any form of cancer, early diagnosis is the key.
How long will a comprehensive oral exam take?
Because this type of exam is more involved than a regular dental cleaning, you can expect the comprehensive exam to take a bit longer than a routine appointment. These appointments typically last around an hour and a half.
Am I a good fit?
A comprehensive oral exam is recommended if there has been an interruption in your routine of dental care or if you’ve had significant changes in your health. Comprehensive oral exams are recommended for all patients every 3-5 years. This allows us to catch minor issues before they develop into major dental problems.
If you are new to our office, we want to welcome you with the best care possible. This means we typically start with a comprehensive oral exam.
Frequently Asked Questions about
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HeadingCan tooth scaling strengthen a loose tooth?
We typically recommend scaling (or deep cleaning) for patients who have periodontal disease. Scaling includes removing all of the disease-causing bacteria from the gumline. Although scaling can mean a much cleaner, healthier smile, it will not reverse damage caused by periodontal disease.A loose tooth, which is a byproduct of gum recession, is not something that can be fixed with scaling. However, a mixture of gum grafts and bone grafts may be able to help save it. The earlier you detect a loose tooth, the better. If you notice a slightly loose tooth, come into the Stanley Dentistry office immediately.
What is the cause of periodontal disease?
The number one cause of periodontal disease in our patients is poor oral maintenance. Not brushing, flossing, or going to the dentist for regular cleanings can cause gum disease. The best way to avoid periodontal disease is to take your oral health seriously.
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We don’t want to toot our own horn, but we are proud of our reputation. We feel that it is a reflection of the hard work and dedication we have committed to our profession, as well as a representation of the passion we have for providing exceptional care to our patients. At Stanley Dentistry, our goal is to earn our patient’s trust and loyalty.
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We’re honored to have been awarded 16 best dentist awards by the Triangle community. From the Western Wake County Maggy Awards to the News and Observers Raleigh’s Best, our patients have been vocal in their support!
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