When you go to the dentist for a routine cleaning and checkup, you are likely to see your hygienist first. The hygienist or the dental assistant is who will x-ray your teeth if it is time for that, and will have already done a preliminary check for conditions like cavities, cracks, or obvious signs of periodontal disease. They may make notes on things they observed, but it will be your Reston, VA dentist that will give you a diagnosis. Even though a dental hygienist or a dental assistant does not diagnose, they are all part of a team that are checking for signs of any kind of trouble in your mouth.

Since the whole point of a dental hygienist is to help keep your teeth healthy enough to remain with you your whole life, they are going to educate you on how to properly clean and care for your teeth and gums between visits. When you go to a Reston, VA dentist some of the recommendations may be tailored for your situation, and that is why your teeth, gums and mouth are being looked at so thoroughly. They need to see what your particular circumstances are to properly teach you the care of your teeth in gums. You may have teeth that are extremely tight or spread apart. Those things alter the advice that you are given. It is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Your mouth is as unique as you are.

After your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned and looked over by the hygienist, your Reston, VA dentist will check everything again and go even further. If you have ever had a dentist put gauze or another material around your tongue to get a grasp on it you will probably remember it being twisted, turned, and lifted. The doctor is looking all around and under it because it is part of their service to you to check for oral cancer. During a dental exam ulcers or tumors can be found that may be indicators of cancer in the mouth. As with any other cancer, oral cancer is a serious situation, and the sooner it is found the sooner it can get treated.

During the exam that you will receive by your Reston, VA dentist your teeth will be checked for decay and cracks. The color of your gums will be observed and noted, along with how much, if any, bleeding occurred from the dental hygienist's work. Your dentist wants to help you save your teeth and keep you and your mouth as healthy as possible. When they are looking so intently in your mouth it is because they are looking for assurance that you are as healthy as you should be.