Things You Didn’t Know the Dentist was Screening in Your First Dental Check Up

Heading to the dentist for your first dental check-up? We know you expect your teeth will get cleaned, the dentist will do a quick check and call it a day. While it is true that your pearly whites are going to get an excellent cleaning but there is a lot more going on than you may realize.

When your dentist is checking the health of your teeth and gums, they are also paying attention to a lot of other, smaller details that give them clues about your overall health.

Here’s an in-depth look into what all is really happening during your visit:

Examining Your Tongue

Your tongue is a significant indicator of potential or current oral health concerns. Is it discoloured? Sensitive? While not usually the case, these factors can be signs of a more serious problem, which your dentist would notice during an exam.

Examining Your Gums

Your dentist always checks the health of your gums during a dental exam. They’ll be looking for any signs of bleeding, swelling or large gum pockets in between your teeth. All of which are signs of potential gum disease.

When you feel your dentist is poking your gums with some instrument, they aren’t actually trying to make you bleed. The probing has a legitimate purpose called periodontal screening which allows them to assess the health of your gums. There is a tiny pocket between your gums and teeth just before the gum attaches to the tooth. Once a year, your dentist measures and records the depth of these pockets to monitor your gum health. Gum disease or bacteria can make these pockets deeper and allow food, plaque and bacteria to accumulate,  which makes the problem even worse and also causes cavities. If left untreated, the pocketing leads to bone loss and eventually mobility and loss of the affected tooth. The good news is that periodontal disease (gum disease) can be prevented and treated with good oral hygiene and regular exams and cleanings.

Examining Your Salivary Glands

Just like gums, teeth, tongue, salivary glands also need to be checked. If they aren’t functioning correctly, your mouth may be drier than usual, making you susceptible to cavities, bacteria, infection and bad breath.

Smelling Your Breath

We know that sounds gross. However your dentist gathers the courage and confirming integrity towards his/her  job, always smells your breath for any signs of unusually bad breath, which can be an indicator of several adverse health issues.

Screening For Cancer

Another thing your dentist is looking for while examining your mouth is any sign of oral cancer. Oral cancer is a very real threat and if left untreated, can become life-threatening. Your dentist is often the first to notice the signs of oral cancer and help diagnose it early, giving you more time for successful treatment.

Checking Your Tonsils

Your dentist always checks the back of your throat and tonsils to ensure there are no signs of infection or irritation.

Checking Each And Every Tooth

With the help of their trusty probe and little mirror, your dentist will go over each one of your teeth and all it’s surfaces. This is done to observe any areas of concern that have occurred since your last visit.

Teeth are made up of layers:

• Enamel (the outermost white layer)
• Dentine (the second yellowish layer with sensitive dentinal tubules having nerve endings )
• Pulp (the innermost layer with nerves and vessels)

With an inspection of the outer layer of enamel your dentist can determine if there are cracks, chips or decay that need to be treated. X-rays allow your dentist to inspect your teeth more deeply and evaluate the health of the tooth. Once decay gets through the enamel it spreads quickly through the dentin to the root. Teeth have been saved by early detection of cavities through x-rays. Early detection can prevent larger fillings, root canals or extractions. This examination is not just fine by the cosmetic dentists in Delhi, but also the best general dentists in Delhi.

Dental X-Ray

Small or full mouth dental x-rays are also necessary to screen for many potential problems as children grow. Impacted teeth, improper alignment, missing adult teeth and problems with the bones and roots can all be found much earlier with x-rays. Early detection of many of these issues allows your dentist to treat the problem at an early stage, which usually means that treatment is not only easier, but also costs much less.

Searching For Sinus Infections

Sinus and dental issues usually go hand-and-hand. How many times have you experienced a nasty sinus infection and noticed that it caused pain in and around your mouth especially the back molars? Both sinus and dental issues can lead to a whole lot of physical pain. Your dentist can check on the health of your sinuses to determine whether it is simply a sinus infection or a more involved dental-related concern.

Evaluating Your Bite/Checking For TMJ Issues

Your bite is an essential indicator of your oral health. Over time, your bite can shift and change. While subtle changes are normal, if there has been a significant shift or if there are any signs of malocclusion (teeth misalignment), your dentist will notice and be able to offer a specific plan to correct that shift. Your Dentist will also examine the contour/shape of your teeth to check for evidence of teeth grinding/clenching. Most people are not even aware that they are grinding unless they have symptoms. Some of the symptoms include: waking up with a headache, soreness of muscles, neck and back pain as well as soreness of the jaw.

Building A Sustainable Oral Health Foundation

At ‘Smile Delhi – The Dental Clinic,’ considered one of the best dental clinics in Delhi, we offer dental exams along with educating and counselling them. Rather than treating our patients only when they visit our office, we provide educational knowledge and all dental adjuncts for home care to take with them in their day-to-day lives.

Your dental appointments are so much more than just a simple cleaning! We are proud of the high-quality and in-depth level of care offered for general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry (smile makeover with veneers, teeth whitening treatment, tooth jewellery treatment, dental implants treatment and emergency dental services! Now that the beginning of the year is almost here, it’s time to get a dental appointment so you utilize your dental benefits.

We introduce children and adults to all of the different dental instruments, as well as the overall environment of a dental clinic and help them become accustomed to having a dentist look in their mouth twice a year. Remember that every individual’s dental experience is heavily influenced by positive experiences and this sets the tone for how they view the dentist as they get older.

Dental Check-up In ‘Smile Delhi- The Dental Clinic’

Your dental appointments are about so much more than just cleanings! Not only is a cleaning accompanied by a fluoride treatment and X-rays, but  the best dentists in Delhi include all ten of the above steps.

Like in most of  the best dental clinics in Delhi, at ‘Smile Delhi – The Dental Clinic,’ we strive to create a fun and enjoyable experience for every patient over their comprehensive dental checkup. So, visit our clinic today! Check out the our website www.dentalclinicdelhi.com  learn more about our dental services!

You can book a dental appointment with us or reach out to us on the bellw contact details.

To book an appointment with us in, ‘Smile Delhi – The Dental Clinic’– call us on +91-9811106871 or whatsapp Dr. Suprriya B Bhatia on +91-9811106377. You can also mail us on info@dentalclinicdelhi.com

“We Care To Make You Smile”

Posted by: Dr Hema