Comprehensive Oral Exam & New Patient Exam

What is included in new patient exams or comprehensive dental exams will often depend on the dentist you have chosen. Most often, exams include several services and procedures, including:

• A full medical history, including previous dental care
• Comprehensive X-rays
• Examination of the teeth, gums, and jaw

Your dentist will be looking for any abnormalities, including cracks, chips, cavities, wear, and staining of the teeth, loose or mobile teeth, gum recession, and any irregularities in the soft tissue.

Your dentist will also conduct an oral cancer screening via a soft tissue exam. He or she will ask questions about risk factors for oral cancer (such as smoking) and may examine or feel for lumps in your mouth, along your jaw, and around your lymph nodes.

Once your exam is complete, your dentist will discuss the findings with you. This may include new findings, a potential treatment plan for the best outcomes, at-home dental care routines, and preventative measures to help maintain excellent dental health.

For your first appointment with a dentist, be sure to bring information about your dental and medical history, including any medication, medical conditions, and past dental treatments or dental work completed. Let your dentist know if you have a history of gum disease, oral cancer, or any other dental conditions. You can also remember to wear comfortable clothing to your appointment, as you’ll likely be asked to lie down on a reclining chair.  

Dental hygiene appointments are scheduled based on patient specific needs. Once you’ve completed your first visit exam, your dentist will tell you whether you need to increase or decrease the frequency of your dental hygiene visits.  

Dentists often like to see children when they are near or under one year old, as the first teeth begin to emerge. Early dental care for children can help encourage healthy hygiene habits, normalize the experience, and ensure your child’s dental health is being managed throughout developmental stages.