Dental Examination

What happens during a dental exam?

During the examination, the dentist will observe the inside of your mouth. He or she will assess your teeth, gums and soft tissues. The dentist will also check your tongue, the inside of your cheeks and your palate. The exam might also include dental x-rays. The information provided by the medical history and lifestyle questionnaire you filled in will also be taken into account.

Here are examples of problems that can be detected by the dentist during this appointment:

• Tooth decay;
• Cracked or chipped tooth;
• Inflammation or other signs of gum disease;
• Crown or filling in poor condition;
• Lesions;
• Cysts;
• Signs of bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching);
• Occlusal problems (bite problems);
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (the joint that connects your jaw to your skull);
• Bone loss;
• Impacted wisdom teeth.