Dental Examination

Optimal dental health starts with a dental exam.

We want our patients of all ages to schedule regular dental exams. Start your children on the road of dental health with a dental exam. We want them to be comfortable sooner.

We want to examine the overall health of your mouth, including the soft tissues of your cheeks and gums and the hard structures of your teeth and jawbone. Dr. Liu recommended you have a dental exam every six months. The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental exam by the time they reach their first birthday.

ARE DENTAL EXAMS IMPORTANT?

Yes! Dental exams are important. They are necessary to help you maintain not only dental health but overall health. Dental Exams are maintenance for your teeth. Afraid of dental costs? Dental exams are the most cost-effective dental treatment you can have. Dental exams help us diagnose and treat dental problems before they become costly. Many dental problems may not have painful or noticeable symptoms. Skipping a dental examination may cause a minor problem such as a cavity turn into a costly dental treatment, like a root canal.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR DENTAL EXAM

Dental exams are performed by your dentist, Dr. Liu at his Edmonds, WA office. He mainly will be performing a checkup and overseeing the hygienist cleaning, but that may vary depending on your dental needs. For instance, he may look for signs of tooth decay in children but look for gum disease in adults.

VISUAL & X-RAY INSPECTION

A dental exam will begin with a visual inspection. Dr. Liu will look for any abnormalities, hard lumps, bleeding, or anything visual. He will then use digital X-rays to get a picture of those things that can not be easily seen. Digital X-rays are his greatest tool. They are much more updated than the traditional film X-rays of your youth. Digital X-rays provide Dr. Liu with instant images that are high in quality, allowing him to enlarge and examine. Using a monitor in the room, he will be able to show you possible problem areas. This is done while also reducing the amount of radiation exposure to traditional X-rays.

DENTAL CLEANING

A dental cleaning is part of your exam. With the help of our hygienist, Dr. Liu will scrape away tartar from your teeth and under your gums. Afterward, our dental hygienist will polish your teeth removing surface stains. This is a great time to review brushing teeth and flossing techniques. We want you to ask us questions like which areas of your mouth may require more attention during your daily routine.

ORAL CANCER SCREENING

Part of your exam is screening for oral cancer. Dr. Liu looks for anything that seems unusual, including sores or lumps. If he finds a reason for concern, Dr. Liu will perform a biopsy of the area.

If no problems, great or small, are detected, we will be happy to schedule your next six-month checkup. Contact our Edmonds, WA office today at (425) 771-2100 for more information.