By knowing what is involved in a complete dental examination, you can then become an aware participant in the proper dental maintenance necessary for oral health care.

Problems can happen fast and lead to bad things such as contagions, decay, or a rather ugly looking cavity. Maintaining oral health through a regularly scheduled dental examination is vital to making sure you have excellent dental health.

Most dental insurance covers a bi-annual dental examination and cleanings. These look for indications of decay and disease, as well as any issues involving improper bite that can have long lasting negative effects on your oral health. Finding issues in the beginning stages usually aids in preventing more complex and expensive procedures on down the line.

Tooth Decay

Your dental examination will include looking for the presence of cavities that are caused by acids that are the result of the different types of bacteria that is present within the mouth. These erode tooth surfaces and insides, which is frequently the cause of decay in the teeth.

Some decay is easy to detect, but others are difficult to spot. By using a specialized instrument, your dentist can find soft spots because the instrument digs in ever so slightly when it comes into contact with decayed areas of the teeth. X-rays also detect cavities by showing them as dark regions on the film.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is in the teeth and gums. This is a problem that causes the bone to shrink, and the gums to come apart from the tooth which begins the creation of pockets within the gums. There may be no types of discomfort or any other types of noticeable symptoms. However, a complete exam, with the inclusion of a visual exam, will help to find any problems.

Symptoms of periodontal disease may be slightly red or enlarged gums. A probe can be used to find out the gum depth beginning at the pocket to the top.

If the reading is 3 millimeters or more, this is a good indication that periodontal disease is present. The deeper the pockets extend, the more advanced the disease is. Gums that are healthy do not bleed, so this is something to keep in mind when doing everyday things such as brushing.

Bite Problems

One the major areas of concern during your dental examination will be with the precision of your bite. When chewing, the healthy and properly aligned bite permits your teeth to hit all at once while your chewing muscles contract evenly. In order for this to happen, the jaw joint must be in the correct position.

A misalignment can allow for plaque to become trapped which will lead to bacteria causing disease and decay. Bite issues can cause you to grind or clench your teeth, have sensitive teeth, and lose the structure of your affected teeth near the gum line. This can also lead to problems with the joint in your jaw, like TMJ.

Make sure that you consistently attend your bi-annual dentistry examination for a healthy mouth all of the time.

Houston Dentist is an expert in cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dental teeth procedures and dental examination.

For your dental needs please contact us at http://www.houstondentists.org/

Author Bio: Houston Dentist is an expert in cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dental teeth procedures and dental examination.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Dental Examination, Oral Health, Dental Hygiene, Dentistry