We provide a complete oral examination for each new patient. This allows us to get an overall sense of your oral health, which serves as our starting point. The initial patient exam consists of the following:

• Diagnostic X-rays – X-rays help us to see cavities, bone loss, and various pathological conditions. Most people receive a full mouth set of X-rays during their initial visit. This set of eighteen X-rays gives us a complete view of each tooth in the mouth.
  
  If you’ve had a recent set of full mouth X-rays taken, then we may only take four bitewing X-rays. These show in between the back teeth, which allows us to see cavities we cannot see visually in the mouth. Before the exam starts, we will talk to you about the X-rays you need.
• Oral Cancer Screening – An oral cancer screening is done at your initial visit and at every cleaning appointment. We look at your gums, cheek, and tongue to check for any suspicious signs of cancer or other diseases seen in the mouth.
• Examination of Teeth – We chart the existing condition of each tooth. This includes prior fillings, cavities, cracks, and wear of your teeth.
• Periodontal Examination – This is an examination of the gum and bone surrounding your teeth. We measure six points around each tooth to get a baseline reading of health. From these numbers, we can tell if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease.
• TMJ Examination – We will check the function of your jaw joint and check for any pain associated with the jaw movements.

In addition to these five diagnostic procedures, we may need to gather further information to come up with a complete treatment plan. This may include pictures, impressions of your teeth, and measurements of your jaw position. After gathering all of the information we need, we will give you some suggestions on how to improve your overall oral health so that you can have a healthy smile.