Dental Exams

The right interval depends on your oral health, dental history and individual needs. Some patients need to be examined more frequently than others. We recommend an appropriate schedule based on your clinical circumstances rather than assuming the same interval is right for everyone.

No. Dental X-rays are recommended when they are clinically useful, not automatically at every examination. Whether you need them depends on factors such as your age, oral health, dental history, symptoms, previous X-rays and what we see during your examination.

No. A dental exam is performed by a dentist to assess your oral health and identify changes that may need attention or monitoring. A dental cleaning focuses on removing plaque and tartar and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. Both can be part of your ongoing preventive care, but they serve different purposes.

You can start with an assessment of where things are now. We'll review your dental and medical history, examine your oral health and explain what we find. If treatment or additional hygiene care is recommended, we'll discuss the priorities and next steps with you.

Many cavities can be identified during a clinical examination, while others may be easier to detect with dental X-rays. If we find an area of concern, we'll explain what we're seeing and whether it needs treatment or monitoring.

We'll show you what we've found, explain what it means and discuss the available options. Some findings need treatment, some benefit from preventive changes, and others can simply be monitored. If another clinician's expertise would be more appropriate, we'll help coordinate a referral.