{"id":106,"date":"2024-06-26T18:37:17","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T18:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilesrus.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2024-06-26T18:37:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T18:37:18","slug":"things-your-dentist-does-at-dental-checkups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilesrus.com\/blog\/things-your-dentist-does-at-dental-checkups\/","title":{"rendered":"The Anatomy of Dental Checkups: What Your Dentist Does That You Don\u2019t See"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Patient<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When you sit in the dentist\u2019s chair for your regular dental checkups, it might seem like a straightforward cleaning and exam. However, there\u2019s much more going on than meets the eye! Your dentist<\/a> performs a variety of tasks to ensure your oral health is in tip-top shape. But what are they doing, exactly? Continue reading to explore the unseen anatomy of a regular dental checkup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Checking for Tooth Wear and Erosion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tooth wear and erosion are the result of things like your diet, brushing habits, and conditions like acid reflux. Your dentist checks for signs of wear and tear on your teeth, such as thinning enamel or flattened surfaces. This lets them suggest lifestyle changes or treatments to protect your teeth from further damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluating Your Dental Restorations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have fillings, crowns, or other dental restorations, your dentist will closely inspect each one. They do this to ensure that they are still intact and working well with your smile. If there are any signs of wear, cracks, or decay around your dental work, they can suggest replacements or offer other treatments to prevent complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspecting Your Gum Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond just checking for cavities, your dentist also assesses the health of your gums at every visit. They do a visual inspection and measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. This helps detect early signs of gum disease so you can receive treatment and prevent more serious problems down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screening for Oral Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important parts of your dental checkup is the oral cancer screening. Your dentist carefully examines your mouth, throat, and neck for any signs of discolored patches, lumps, and other unusual symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early detection of oral cancer can significantly improve treatment outcomes. In fact, research shows that your odds of survival are nearly 20 percent higher at five years by screening regularly. At ten years, this difference increases to nearly 30 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluating Your Bite Alignment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your dentist also examines your bite and jaw alignment to ensure everything is working and feeling well. They look for signs of teeth grinding and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause pain and discomfort. This examination helps your dentist see issues that could lead to tooth wear, jaw pain, or headaches, before it becomes troublesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, there\u2019s a lot going on behind the scenes of your dental checkups. Your dentist\u2019s careful and thorough approach during your visit plays a huge role in maintaining your health from top to bottom. So, keep going regularly! With a great dentist and personalized care, your smile is in good hands for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Anthony Dillard<\/a> is a passionate and highly skilled dentist with a dental doctorate from the Baylor College of Dentistry. He truly enjoys getting to know his patients and helping them learn to keep their smiles healthy through personalized advice and science-based education. Call (972) 394-1492 to schedule a checkup and cleaning at Anthony Dillard, DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry or visit the website<\/a> to see a full menu of services they provide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you sit in the dentist\u2019s chair for your regular dental checkups, it might seem like a straightforward cleaning and exam. However, there\u2019s much more going on than meets the eye! Your dentist performs a variety of tasks to ensure your oral health is in tip-top shape. But what are they doing, exactly? Continue reading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Happens At Dental Checkups | Anthony Dillard, DDS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dental checkups are vital for continued oral health and a great smile, but did you know there\u2019s more to it than meets the eye?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smilesrus.com\/blog\/things-your-dentist-does-at-dental-checkups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Happens At Dental 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