Dental Services

Comprehensive Dental Examination Services

Before we can do any dental work on new patients our dentists must first do an oral exam, which is a comprehensive dental examination and diagnosis. This dental checkup procedure that should be done any time you visit a new dentist or every three to five years. Book an appointment with our Fergus dentists to ascertain if there have been any changes in your oral health or in your dental status since your last dental examination.

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Dental Checkup versus Comprehensive Dental Exam

In an average dental checkup your dentist at Country Dental will examine your teeth and gums for any tooth decay, cavities, tartar buildup, or changes in dental health. Generally speaking, a checkup is fairly quick, usually requiring less than 20 minutes and usually followed by a dental cleaning.

A comprehensive dental patient examination and diagnosis can take an hour or more, as your dentist will explore every area of your oral health. In short:

A dental checkup mainly looks at the highlights of your oral health
A dental examination procedure goes into greater depth

Most people do not have their teeth cleaned during their comprehensive dental exam. However, after the dental examination and diagnosis your dentist will have a full understanding of your periodontal health. If a dental cleaning, or other dental work is needed, it can be discussed following the exam.

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Oral Health Areas That Are Examined

What does a dental exam consist of?

Full periodontal exam (which includes both the gums and the jawbones that support your teeth)
Complete exam of the teeth themselves
Full examination of the head, mouth, and throat (for signs of cancer)
Complete Occlusal exam (an analysis of your bite)
Full TMJ exam (the joints of the jaws)
Full dental X-rays or other types of scans
Complete salivary exam
An Aesthetic exam (the overall appearance of the teeth and jaw in relation to the face)

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When Should a Comprehensive Dental Examination Be Performed?

Other than the recommended 3 to 5 year dental exam, any time major dental work is planned then a full comprehensive dental examination and diagnosis should be done. Major dental work would include the following:

If you are considering orthodontic braces or any other type of aesthetic changes
If you are thinking about dental implants to replace lost teeth
If you want to replace older dental work
If you are getting new or replacement dentures

Also, if you have been recently diagnosed with a medical condition or disease, you should have our qualified dentists do a comprehensive oral exam.

At times you might find that your dentist suggests additional consultations with other oral specialists either during or after your exam. Don’t be concerned if this happens. This is usually just an additional step towards obtaining a full report. It doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is drastically amiss.

After the completion of a dental examination procedure your dentist will know everything there is to know about your oral health. In this way, you and your Country Dental dentist can make choices that are right for your condition.

Dental and other oral problems and diseases are generally very predictable and so much of it is preventable, if caught early enough. Our Ontario dentists also provide oral cancer screening and dental hygiene nutritional counselling services.

Every journey starts with just one step in the right direction. If it has been 3 years or more since your last comprehensive oral exam, book a dental appointment.

To learn more about what is involved in a dental examination and diagnosis, visit this Canadian Dental Association page, which offers an excellent overview on what is involved in a Regular Dental Exam.

Or call our Ontario dental clinic – Fergus: 519-787-7878

We also offer dental financing through PayBright.

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