Dental Checkup

A dental checkup is your first defense against serious dental problems. When you come to our office for your first checkup, we’ll perform a comprehensive exam to evaluate your current oral health. We will examine your gums, teeth, and oral tissues to check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other common dental problems. If we find that you are at risk, we will discuss treatment options with you.

What are the benefits of a dental checkup?

The American Dental Association recommends two checkups per year or once every six months. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are important for maintaining good oral health. They allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and address any problems.

What happens during a dental checkup?

At your checkup appointment, we will perform a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth. We’ll also review your health history.

Your dental checkup includes the following steps:

• Consultation and Exam

A dental checkup includes dental cleaning, as well as an exam. During a typical checkup at Desert Mountain Dental, we will:

• Perform dental cleaning

Cleanings are also known as prophylaxis and are an essential part of keeping a healthy mouth. During dental cleanings, our dental hygienist will clean your teeth by removing plaque and tartar that have built up. We also polish your teeth to remove any additional stains.

• Conduct full-mouth evaluation and obtain digital X-ray (radiographs)

Dental x-rays are an important part of your dental checkup. They allow your dentist to see between your teeth, examine the health of your bone, and check for any abnormalities or irregularities. If any dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, dental stains, etc., are present, appropriate treatments are prescribed. 

• Perform oral cancer screening

In addition to your exam, your dental checkup includes oral cancer screening. During your oral cancer screening, we will visually examine your mouth, tongue, cheeks, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer. If we observe signs of oral cancer, we may recommend a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure where tissue or cells are removed from the body for examination under a microscope.

Your checkup appointment is a great time to bring any questions or concerns you have about your oral health and smile. It’s best to come to the appointment with a list of topics to discuss with your doctor.

Here are a few topics you may want to discuss with your doctor:

• Brushing and flossing techniques.
• How to achieve optimal oral health at home.
• Protecting your smile.
• Taking necessary medications.
• Your diet and how it affects your oral health.
• Ways to improve your smile.

To learn about our dental procedures, call Desert Mountain Dental at (520) 324-0100 and schedule an appointment or visit our Tucson dental office.