What a Complete Dental Checkup Should Include

A few days ago, I heard my wife and daughter talking about oral hygiene. They were specifically discussing about what constitutes a complete dental checkup. I didn't get to hear the concluding portions of their discussion, but I made sure I checked with my dentist-friend, a couple of days later, what she considers a complete dental checkup should include. She was patient in providing the details to me.

While treatment needs differ from person to person, most dentists (including my friend) start a standard dental checkup by cleaning the teeth. This commencing task may be performed by either a dental hygienist or the dentist herself. Scaling the teeth is the initial step in a professional cleaning. This step involves the removal of the incrustation on the teeth (plaque hardened by mineral salt depositions), called tartar or calculus. Following an exhaustive scaling, the teeth will be burnished with a paste or a powder; you will then be ready for the checkup.

The dentist will most likely begin by inspecting closely your mouth as well as your neck; she will feel the lymph nodes around your jaw. After this, the dentist will look searchingly into the inside of your mouth and make sure that the soft tissues there are free of any sores or growths. Your tongue will also be examined to make certain it is normal. To determine if your bite is working properly, the dentist may ask you to open and close your mouth repeatedly a few times.

The dental checkup will proceed with the dentist inspecting your teeth for any signs of clenching or grinding. She will next check your gums to make sure they are in perfect health (no inflammation nor sore, and neither bleeding nor receding). Any dentures, fillings, bridges, or crowns you may have will be checked to make sure they fit correctly. The dentist may probe for decay at this exact moment; or she may do more scaling. As the dentist may deem necessary, she will give you a fluoride treatment. She may likewise counsel you on proper oral hygiene and nutrition.