Family Dentistry

Dental hygiene and exams

An important part of your oral health is having regular exams and cleanings. During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will check for cavities and gum disease and thoroughly clean your teeth. 

Radiographs/X-rays

In addition to your cleaning and exam, we may also take imaging of your mouth, using radiography. Radiography is a type of x-ray procedure typically referred to as simply x-rays. These are done in order to detect decay between teeth, changes in bone caused by gum disease, look for possible tumors and check for the breakdown of dental fillings.

Oral cancer screenings

One of our most important jobs as your oral health provider is to perform regular oral cancer screenings to ensure early detection and the best chance for survival and recovery. Because you generally only see your regular doctor when a problem comes up, your dentist is in a unique position – inside your mouth – to screen you for oral cancer on a regular, twice-yearly basis. Some of the things we look for, and things you should be on the lookout for at home, include:

• Sores, swelling, lumps or thick patches
• Red or white lesions
• Feeling of a lump or something stuck in the throat
• Numbness, pain or tenderness
• Pain in the ear without loss of hearing
• Trouble moving jaw or tongue, swallowing or speaking
• Loose teeth with no apparent dental problem
• Lingering sore throat or hoarseness