Dental Exam

Good Oral Health is the Key to Good Overall Health

If you want to stay healthy, you need to be proactive with your dental health by getting problems diagnosed and treated before they become bigger issues. This is why it is important to schedule dental exams for yourself and your family. While we always check your teeth during a cleaning, a comprehensive exam provides a much more complete picture of your oral health. Dental exams at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry evaluate your overall and oral health by checking for signs of oral cancer, tooth decay, and other diseases. Dr. James Peterson will determine your need for treatments and check your bite and jaw for problems. A series of X-rays will provide better insight into the health of your teeth, jaw, and gums.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer includes any abnormal group of cells in your mouth, including your jawbone, lips, gums, throat, salivary glands, and tongue. An oral cancer screening to look for early signs like sores, inflammation, lumps, and lesions is part of every dental examination at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Peterson will also palpate your neck and jaw to check for abnormalities. If he finds any areas of concern, he may recommend a biopsy or refer you to a specialist for further care.

Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras make it possible to perform a thorough and detailed dental examination. These small pen-like devices produce a high-resolution view of your teeth and gums. An intraoral camera can capture different angles of your gums and teeth and takes a live video that you can watch on a monitor. Additionally, an intraoral camera can also help Dr. Peterson provide a more accurate diagnosis if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or other oral health symptoms. Dr. Peterson can also use the intraoral camera during treatment to get a better visual.

Dental Exam Reviews

Getting a Dental Exam

Patients of all ages should have a dental exam every year. Many common conditions, like gum disease (the biggest cause of tooth loss), do not have symptoms you will readily notice. When we can catch concerns early, you are more likely to have better treatment options.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children go to the dentist before their first birthday. Dr. Peterson can help with problems, like using pacifiers, teething, and baby bottle tooth decay. The team at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry can teach you how to care for and clean your baby’s mouth so they start healthy habits early that will carry on throughout their life. Dental exams are also crucial for children as they get older and as their mouths develops.

What To Expect

Your dental exam will begin with an overall evaluation of your tongue, gums, teeth, throat, the roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, and other oral checkpoints. This includes looking for signs of oral cancer.

One of our team members will take digital X-rays so that Dr. Peterson can screen for abnormal tissue in the gums. He will also evaluate your head, neck, and jaw, including your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and bite. He will then talk about any concerns he found and how to best treat them.

Dr. Peterson will discuss any health conditions you have, prescriptions you may be taking, and how they might impact your oral health by causing dry mouth and tooth decay. He will also examine any prosthetics you have, like bridges and dentures, to check their fit and function.

When to schedule your next appointment will depend on the state of your oral health. If Dr. Peterson does not identify any problems, then the only follow-up you will need is to continue a home oral care routine, including brushing and flossing twice a day, along with annual dental exams and semiannual cleanings at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. If Dr. Peterson does see something that needs to be treated, he will discuss your options and the time frame involved.

Annual Dental Exams

Maintaining good oral health means you don’t just go to the dentist only when something is wrong. You have to be proactive with preventive care. It can save your teeth and gums and save you a significant amount of time and money.

We recommend visiting Dr. James Peterson at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry every year for a dental examination. Doing so will help you address problems early, when they are usually less severe and cost less to treat. We work hard to make dental examinations a positive experience for you so you will want to come back every year. If you live in or near Coppell, TX, call today to schedule dental exams for your entire family at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

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