In The Beginning Was The Dental Exam

Have you had the typical dental exam that checks your teeth for cavities and your gums for disease? Did you think this was all that was needed? Such an exam leaves a lot to be desired regarding its impact on your general health. Factually, the scope of dentistry includes not just teeth and gums, but a thorough examination of the position and function of your teeth and their supporting structures; a bite analysis; an examination of your chewing and speech — and the movement of the jaws and joints and how they impact all of the above.

An exam by any other name…Is not an exam. If you wanted to remodel your home you’d hire a general contractor. If you hired an electrician or a carpenter, their scope of experience would limit their ability to visualize and get executed an outcome you’d be satisfied with.

Similarly, your dental exam is based on a practitioner’s knowledge of dentistry. Usually, a dentist doesn’t see much beyond what he or she can treat. At Artistic Dentistry, we treat nearly any dental situation — from root canals to orthodontics to cosmetics to identifying the “mysterious” reason for a tooth problem. In short, the scope of responsibility your practitioner is willing to take depends upon his/her knowledge.

Your teeth and mouth tell a story. Your mouth, gums and jaws indicate much about your overall health. Aside from your dental condition — I can sometimes detect conditions like osteoporosis, leukemia, cancer and even bulimia.

A young woman came to me with tonsils that had been swollen for fifteen years. She had undergone regular dental care and five years of orthodontics. Neither practitioner had suggested she see a specialist about the swollen tonsils. I queried her about a list of symptoms I suspected she was suffering from, including chronic fatigue. Wide-eyed, she sat up in my chair and asked “how do you know all this about me?” I immediately referred her to a surgeon who diagnosed that she was actually suffering from a lifethreatening condition.

Another patient came to me after spending $50,000 on a treatment program. The doctor overseeing the case only performed cosmetic procedures. This patient had been referred to several specialists to perform various phases, such as root canals, extractions, etc. The unfortunate outcome was that after two years of treatment and expense, the patient still had lower crooked teeth. Why? The specialist overseeing his case didn’t perform orthodontics and told this patient he didn’t need it. After spending $50,000 to rehab your mouth, wouldn’t you want to see straight teeth?

A dentist with multi-disciplinary skills sees beyond a limited set of procedures. So, the next time my staff calls to get you scheduled for your cleaning and exam, you should know that this is one of the most important visits to the dentist you can make. If you value the health of your mouth and plan to keep your teeth for a lifetime, then we’re both on the same page.