An oral check-up is a complete examination of the mouth, teeth and gums. The examination is carried out with great care by the dentist, and the dental hygienist also makes a contribution. Among other things, it detects possible oral diseases, like cavities, periodontal disease such as receding gums, infections or lesions in the mouth.
The oral check-up also includes a visual examination of the mouth. This examination includes an assessment of the patient’s general state of health and medical history.
In the event of an observed lesion or a dental condition, your dentist may use a dental X-ray to validate his initial observations and propose an effective treatment, if necessary.
An oral check-up is recommended once a year to maintain good health and prevent dental and periodontal disease. Ideally, we advise a periodic check-up every nine months.
In this respect, it is essential to follow your dentist’s recommendations regarding frequency and follow-up to maintain good oral health.
Oral Examination Stages
Generally speaking, there are five stages to an oral examination. The following table presents each of these stages, with a brief definition.
| Oral Examination Stages | Actions Taken |
| Medical and oral history | In this first stage, the dentist gathers information about your overall health and oral history. |
| Visual examination | The dentist and dental hygienist take the time to examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and detect any cavities, gum disease or other conditions. |
| X-rays | The dentist may take X-rays of your mouth to help make the right diagnosis. These X-rays not only look at your teeth, but also examine and evaluate your jawbones. |
| Teeth cleaning | The dental hygienist will clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar, while suggesting new ways to care for your teeth on a daily basis. |
| Recommendations and follow-up | Based on his observations, the dentist makes recommendations, specifies future oral health treatments, if any, and suggests that you come back for additional treatment or your next check-up. |
It is clear from the above that an oral examination is essential to maintain good dental health and prevent more serious problems.
Prevention: A Priority!
As we’ve already mentioned, an annual dental check-up is essential to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
We can’t overemphasize the importance of this examination, which is more about prevention than cure. More significantly, regular follow-up with your dentist is likely to reduce costs.
Indeed, if you neglect your oral health, there’s a good chance that when the time comes to visit the dentist, you’ll have to pay more, given the deterioration of certain teeth or even of periodontal disease.
If the examination is carried out regularly, the dentist can intervene immediately with the appropriate treatment.
Moreover, an oral check-up isn’t just for adults. Children and teenagers also need to undergo an oral check-up to ensure that their teeth are growing properly, and to prevent tooth decay and other problems.
Early dental check-ups are the best way to ensure healthy tooth growth in children and teenagers.
Don’t Be Afraid of The Dentist
Don’t delay your visit to the dentist on the grounds that your experience will be painful. A timely visit to your dentist is essential for good oral health.
At the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville, we adopt a gentle, friendly approach. For example, our quick and painless anesthesia techniques, modern state-of-the-art equipment, professional and relaxed atmosphere, as well as a host of little considerations, are all aspects we advocate to ensure you have a most pleasant visit.
Even more fundamental for the whole team, we focus on prevention through education. That’s why we make it our duty to take all the time required to answer your questions.
In short, we listen to your concerns and care about your well-being. We keep abreast of the latest developments, and take a personalized, customized approach.
Make an appointment now for your oral health check-up. A professional team awaits you!