Dental Exam in West Brattleboro, VT

When it comes to oral health, it is important to be proactive with dental problems and get diagnosed and treated before they become larger issues. This is why we recommended that children, teens, and adults receive annual dental examinations. While teeth are superficially examined during a cleaning, an exam provides a much more in-depth analysis. Dental exams at Dental Health evaluate your general health and oral hygiene, including signs of oral cancer, your risk for diseases, and tooth decay. Our board-certified Dental Health team will assess the need for treatments or dental restorations, as well as check the bite and jaw for problems. A series of x-rays will also be taken to get better insight into the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. If you live in or near Brattleboro, VT, schedule an annual dental examination for yourself and your family at Dental Health.

Oral cancer includes any abnormal growth of cells in the mouth, including the jawbone, gums, lips, throat, tongue, and salivary glands. Every dental exam at Dental Health includes an oral cancer screening to look for early signs including sores, inflammation, lumps, and lesions. Our team will also palpate the throat and jaw for abnormalities. If any areas of concern are found, a biopsy may be performed or you will be referred to a specialist for further care.

Brattleboro, VT patients of all ages should get an annual dental exam. Often, people are lulled into a sense of complacency when they don’t feel any pain in their teeth or gums. Many common problems, like gum disease (the biggest cause of tooth loss), don’t have symptoms you can notice. The earlier problems are caught, the better your chances will be for a successful treatment with less invasive options.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that all children go to the dentist before their first birthday. This can help with issues, like teething, baby bottle tooth decay, and the use of pacifiers. Our dental team can help you understand how to care for and clean your baby's mouth so they start healthy habits early — this will also help them throughout their life. Dental exams are also important for children and teens as they get older as their mouth develops. While baby teeth will fall out eventually, Dental Health can watch for any development issues in the gums and jaw.

Dental exams for kids and adults begin with an overall assessment of the tongue, teeth, gums, roof of the mouth, inside the cheeks, throat, and other oral checkpoints. This includes looking for signs of oral cancer throughout the mouth. A member of our team will take x-rays and screen for abnormal tissue in the gums. We will evaluate your head, neck, and jaw, including your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and bite, while talking about anything found and how to best treat it. The Dental Health team will discuss any health problems you may have, medications you may be taking, and how they might impact your oral health by causing dry mouth and tooth decay. Finally, we will examine any prosthetics that are present, like dentures or bridges, to check the fit and wear.

The follow-up period of an exam will depend on your oral health. If the Dental Health team does not identify any issues, then the only follow-up would be to continue a regimen of dental health, including brushing and flossing twice a day, along with annual dental exams and biannual cleanings at our facility. If our team does see an issue that needs to be addressed, options will be discussed and scheduled.

Since a dental exam is critical to your oral health, it is typically covered by dental insurance. Our office will work with your dental insurance company to determine your coverage and any out-of-pocket costs. If you and your family do not have dental insurance, we accept many payment options, including medical financing. Our Dental Health team is happy to work with you and your loved ones to make sure you can afford good oral health.

Having a healthy mouth means more than just going to the dentist only when something goes wrong. Preventive care is vital. It can save your teeth, as well as a significant amount of money. We recommend that children, teens, and adults visit our Dental Health team every year for a dental examination. Doing so will enable you and your family to stay on top of oral health issues by catching and treating them early. We do our best to make dental exams a positive experience so staying healthy is easier. Contact our office in Brattleboro, VT to make your appointment.