Comprehensive Exam Kennewick, WA

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Your dental health is just as important as your physical health, which is why visiting Tri-City Dental Care for a comprehensive exam is equal to visiting your doctor for a full physical check-up.

It’s a procedure to ensure that your dental health is still in a good state and is commonly performed on new patients and thereafter, on an annual or two-year basis. However, a comprehensive exam is not to be confused with a regular dental check-up because as the name implies, it is rather comprehensive.

What Happens During an Oral Exam?

During the comprehensive exam, we will perform the following actions:

  • Medical and Dental History Check: we will first check your entire medical and dental history side by side, as that can have an effect on the current state of your teeth.
  • Head and neck exam
  • Analysis of the oral soft tissue
  • A screening for oral cancer, which includes a complete examination of your head, mouth, and throat
  • Orthodontic screening
  • We will also take oral x-rays and digital photographs for a closer view of your bone structure and the health condition of your teeth
  • We’ll also create teeth impressions in order to create molds for further analysis
  • An assessment of your smile, or the aesthetic aspect of your teeth, which includes examining the appearance of your teeth and jaws relative to your face
  • A complete examination of the gum area and your jaw bones
  • A thorough analysis of your bite
  • A comprehensive salivary exam
  • A detailed exam on each of your tooth which checks for things like tooth decay, cavities, cracks and a check-up on how previous dental work is holding up

When Should a Comprehensive Exam be Performed?

Going for your comprehensive exam on a regular basis will ensure that we are able to eliminate small problems as they arise while being able to prevent serious issues like oral cancer, cavity development, gum disease and the loss of your precious teeth.

The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist for a checkup at least twice a year to be on the safe side, but a dental exam is a bit different because it is more extensive and detailed than a normal check-up. Therefore, we recommend that you have your dental exam done every two to three years.

We also recommend that you do a full dental exam every time you’re about to have a major dental procedure, such as the following:

  • When you’re having aesthetic changes like orthodontic braces installed or replaced
  • When you’re about to have earlier dental work replaced due to wear and tear or some other reason
  • When you’re considering dental implants as a replacement for missing teeth
  • When you’re getting new dentures or replacing old ones
  • Whenever you’re diagnosed with a serious disease or medical condition, it’s always a good idea to have a comprehensive exam done

Sometimes after a comprehensive exam, we might even suggest that you consult with other oral care experts to get a broad perspective on your dental condition that may not be possible with the tools and perspective that we have. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a cause for concern and should, therefore, not worry you.

How Long Does a Comprehensive Exam Take?

Because it is so wide-ranging, a comprehensive exam usually takes an hour or so to complete. So, you’ll want to clear your schedule for that amount of time when you have a comprehensive exam scheduled.

Comprehensive Exam Conclusion

Whether you’re a new patient or a loyal patron, at Tri-City Dental Care we pride ourselves in offering high-quality service. Our comprehensive exams and other procedures are performed by experienced experts in a relaxing and inviting atmosphere where you get to enjoy soothing massage chairs and aromatherapy in a spa-like ambiance.

Call us today to book a comprehensive dental exam.  [509.579.0759]