Dental Checkups: What is The Dentist Looking For?

Dental checkups are recommended to establish a comprehensive baseline for your oral health by identifying any developing threats and areas that need improvement. The general dentist will thoroughly examine all structures of the mouth, including the teeth, gums, and tongue. However, this exam also involves reviewing the patient's oral health routine and habits.

Dental checkup: Examining the teeth

Contrary to popular belief, the teeth are not bone. They are tissue comprising multiple layers: enamel, dentin, cementum, and the pulp chamber, which houses the nerves and connective tissues. As the general dentist examines the mouth, they check for abnormalities in each layer of the tooth. This may involve probing with various tools and taking X-rays.

Because the teeth comprise various live tissues, they can develop infection along with decay. However, in most cases, either threat will develop over time. Therefore, the dentist's examination methods can provide early detection and, subsequently, early intervention. Further, the dentist will also check for signs of damage, primarily fractures. Some fractures are obvious, but others are not. Likewise, some fractures can start small, but left untreated, constant use of the mouth and patient's bite force can worsen the fracture. This results in the tooth's inner structures becoming vulnerable to bacteria, causing infection and pain.

Dental checkup: Examining the gums

The gums are the fleshy, soft tissues surrounding the teeth, keeping them stable. The dentist will ensure they are healthy and firm. According to Crest, healthy gums are firm, pink, and free from swelling, redness, or bleeding.

The general dentist or dental hygienist will perform a simple test to ensure no gum disease or recession. They will use a periodontal probe to measure the amount of tissue present around each tooth—healthy tissue will measure between one and three millimeters. If measurements return anything higher than these, inflammation, recession, and plaque or tartar build-up are likely present.

Further, the dentist will check for signs of discoloration, sores, cuts, or lesions in the buccal mucosa (lining of the cheeks). This can be a great time to detect signs of oral cancer. Note that some diseases or infections require outside resources. Therefore, the dentist will recommend the patient to a specialist to better serve their needs.

Dental checkup: Examining the tongue

The tongue says a lot about the overall health of the patient. Stress, medication use, tobacco use, poor diets, and poor oral hygiene practices can play a role in the look and function of the tongue. The tongue also carries food, saliva, and bacteria into various bodily systems. Therefore, the dentist will ensure it is healthy. A healthy tongue is pink in color (vary in brightness) and moist. Signs of an unhealthy tongue are dryness, colors other than pink (white, brown, yellow, or black), or a fuzzy or hairy consistency. During the dental checkup, the dentist can identify any infections and provide adequate interventions, such as an improved mouth rinse or antibiotics.