Appointment steps (dental examination)You have met your hygienist and become familiar with the instruments that will be used; here is the step-by-step process of this first appointment:
Note that the order of the steps may vary from one clinic to another. |
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DENTIST EXAMINATIONBased on the hygienist’s preliminary report, X-rays and the examination of your mouth, the dentist will be able to give you a current picture of your dental health. To examine your teeth and mouth tissues, the dentist will use simple instruments:
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FROM YOUR NOSE TO THE BASE OF YOUR NECKIn addition to your teeth, your new dentist will examine your entire mouth. Your dentist will examine the tissues of your cheeks, your gums, your tongue and your jaw joints, known as TMJ (temporomandibular joints). Depending on the tools available (X-rays, CT scans), he may assess the condition of your jawbone, since we all experience a certain amount of bone loss with age. He may also observe the presence of cysts and tumours. Sometimes, your dentist will be able to identify the causes of certain tooth pains that originate outside the mouth: for example, sinusitis visible on an X-ray may explain pain in the canines despite the absence of cavities or other direct pathology. Finally, since your dentist can detect oral cancers, he or she will be able to refer you to a dentist specializing in oral pathology for sampling. |