Comprehensive Oral Exam in Marshfield, MA

To ensure the health of your teeth, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends having a routine dental examination and cleaning every six months. The exam is important because it can detect oral and physical health problems in their early stages. When you visit Beautiful South Shore Smiles in Marshfield, MA, here’s what you can expect from a comprehensive oral exam.

Complete Tooth Examination

During the comprehensive exam, our dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth. She will look carefully at the fronts, backs, and in between teeth for signs of decay, tartar, and inspect the gums for gum disease.

Catching tartar build-up early can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities. Our dentist will use a small mirror to check the back teeth to ensure they are healthy and in good condition as well. If problems are spotted, our dentist can treat them after the examination is over.

Oral Cancer Screenings

While our dentist inspects your teeth and gums during a comprehensive oral exam, she will also look for signs of oral and throat cancers. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with approximately 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

The signs of oral cancer include:

• Sores on the lips or inside of the mouth that don’t heal
• Red or white lesions in the mouth or on the tongue
• Hard lumps on the tongue or inside of the cheeks
• Sores on the back of the tongue

Sores on the back of the tongue could also indicate throat cancer, so if our dentist in Marshfield, MA suggests making an appointment for a biopsy, you need to contact your physician as soon as possible.

Detection of Health Issues

Aside from your dental health, our dentist can spot physical health issues that you may not know about. For instance, dentists can spot:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Leukemia

Sometimes a sore or painful jaw can indicate an upcoming heart attack. If our dentist at Beautiful South Shore Smiles in Marshfield, MA, has concerns about your overall health after a comprehensive oral exam, contact your physician for an appointment. Along with taking care of your dental care, our dentist can also help ensure that you stay healthy overall.