Regular dental exams are an important part of maintaining healthy teeth. Choosing an appropriate dentist, as well as someone you are comfortable with, is also very important. Nobody really likes to go to the dentist, but when you have a dentist you like and trust, it makes the experience a lot better. Dr. Iverson and his team at Junction Dental will not only take care of you and your teeth, but they also do their best to make your appointment fun.

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What are Dental Exams?

Dental exams are important to help determine your individual oral health status and provide appropriate maintenance or treatment recommendations. They cover many aspects of maintaining good oral health which impacts systemic health. This includes detecting disease, treating disease, and identifying proactive or preventive treatment options as well.

Why do I need a dental exam?

A general dentist helps establish a baseline oral health plan for each patient with a comprehensive dental exam. They serve to provide maintenance and intervention treatment options. If you don’t have a general dentist you see every 6-12 months regularly then NOW is the time for an oral examination before noticeable problems develop … It is ALWAYS easier to detect, prevent and treat with better outcomes before problems become uncomfortable.

Is a dental cleaning the same thing as a dental exam?

Technically these are separate steps. During the cleaning, the dental hygienist provides treatment to remove plaque and calculus deposits, as well as provide oral hygiene education. The dental exam is the collection of information about a patient’s real-time oral health appearance, then an interpretation of those findings, and finally a review and recommendations from the dentist for treatment with the patient.

 

What is included in a dental check-up?

In addition to a dental exam, you will have a cleaning with the hygienist, as well as fluoride varnish as needed. We will also take photos or x-rays if needed.

 

How long does a dental exam take?

The exam portion usually takes 20 minutes of the appointment time to gather photos and teeth x-ray images and allow Dr. Iverson and the hygienist to collect necessary information, interpret the information gathered, and review treatment options. The remainder of the time is mostly used for cleaning and updating any contact and personal information.

 

How much is a dental exam?

This can be highly variable. Prices for the exam can range between ~$50-150. This depends on if the patient has insurance and whether that insurance is considered in-network or out of network. It also depends on if this is a limited exam, a periodic exam, or a more comprehensive exam.

 

How often should I get my teeth examined?

Generally every 6-12 months is a reasonable range for most people with low-moderate oral disease risk. High risk individuals with active oral disease should be seen every 3-6 months, as this is the time frame when noticeable physical progression of gum disease and cavity depth can be seen on exam and on x-ray images.

Why Choose Junction Dental for Your Next Oral Exam?

We are not a practice that tries to sell you on unnecessary treatment. Junctions Dental focuses on what is clearly a practical benefit for your oral and systemic health, and we work hard at clearly explaining why we are recommending specific treatment options.  We also remain open to alternative options to fit your personal comfort level, whether that is emotional or financial. We try to keep this process optimized, so just enough information is reviewed and next steps are easy to manage.

Taking care of your teeth is important, not only for your oral health, but your overall systemic health as well. Dr. Iverson and his team want to help take care of your oral wellbeing, while making your visit enjoyable and even fun, so you can maintain your beautiful smile.

Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment. Call (206) 935-5522 to Schedule a Dentist Appointment