During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and check for cavities and gum disease. The exam includes evaluating your risk of developing other oral problems and checking your face, neck and mouth for abnormalities.

What can a dentist detect?

What Can a Dentist Detect During a Dental Checkup?Tooth decay. The first thing dentists often check for during a dental checkup is any signs of tooth decay. Gum disease. Gum disease is very prevalent and affects millions of people every year. Cosmetic issues. Oral cancer.

What is the most common reason for dental visits?

Regular dental visits are important because they allow your dentist to: Detect cavities (tooth decay) early. Your dentist examines your teeth to find cavities while theyre still minor. The earlier you catch them, the less expensive cavities are to treat.

What do dentists say when checking teeth?

What Do The Numbers Mean? During the measuring process, youll hear us say numbers ranging from 1 to 7, and sometimes more. These numbers reflect how deep your gum pockets are in millimeters. Anything between 1 and 3 is a good indicator that your gums are healthy.

Can dentist tell if sick?

Aside from pointing out the evident cavity or stained teeth, dentists can tell if you are sick, highly stressed, and even pregnant!

How can a dentist help you?

A dentist has many responsibilities, and one of the most important is promoting good dental hygiene. This helps to prevent complications in your mouth or other parts of the body. A dentist also diagnoses and treats problems of the gums, teeth, and mouth.

Can I get a dentist to come to my house?

Home visits General dental practitioners may treat you at your home or temporary residence, if your condition needs this and they agree to accept you as a patient for Health Service care. Or, the Health Service community dental service offered by your local primary care trust may be able to visit you at home.

What happens if you havent been a dentist in years?

If you havent been to the dentist in several years, theres a good chance you may have one or two cavities that require attention. If you are visiting the dentist due to severe pain, you may need root canal therapy to address an infection that has entered the underlying pulp.

Do dentists have good teeth?

Conclusions. Our study has shown that dentists have better self-reported oral health behaviors and periodontal status than the laypersons. Despite no significant difference in caries prevalence between the two groups, the prevalence of decayed and unfilled teeth was lower among dentists.

How many years does it take to become a dentist?

How long does it take to become a dentist? It generally takes eight years to become a dentist: four years to earn a bachelors degree as an undergraduate and four years to earn a DDS or DMD in dental school. If youre interested in specializing, youll also need to complete a dental residency (more on that below).

Do dentists do house calls if you have a disability?

Home visits If you are unable to visit a dentist, they may be able to bring dental treatment to where you live. Or, the Health Service community dental service offered by your local primary care trust may be able to visit you at home. Your doctor or a local dentist can give you contact details.

Is it safe to go to the dentist during Covid 19?

After asking dental offices to stop non-urgent visits and surgeries because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the CDC now recommend that dental teams weigh the risk in their area with the need to provide care for patients.

What happens if you havent been dentist in 5 years?

After the hygienist has thoroughly cleaned your teeth, your dentist will carefully inspect for cavities or signs of periodontal disease. He or she may also look for signs of oral cancer. If you havent been to the dentist in several years, theres a good chance you may have one or two cavities that require attention.

What happens if you havent gone to the dentist in 10 years?

If you havent been to the dentist in over 10 years, it is likely that you will need to fill a cavity and/or take preventative action against gum disease.