OR call (260) 482-3759
Comprehensive Dental Exams for All Ages
At Hale Family Dentistry, we offer a variety of exams to cover all your needs. Our services include general checkups to maintain oral health and preventative dental procedures like teeth cleanings or sealants. Our team will be with you every step of the way, providing personalized care and guidance to both you and your families.
Oral Exams and X-Rays
The first step in maintaining a healthy smile and reducing dental emergencies is visiting the dentist regularly. But, if you haven’t been perfect, we understand that too. Life gets busy and visiting the dentist is sometimes not easy. That is why we are here, to help!
Did you know that not all dental exams are the equal? At Hale Family Dentistry, we offer a variety of exams for different purposes. There are new patient exams, periodic exams, limited exams, and consultations, too!
During one of the many types of exams, Dr. Hale will use modern tools, such as digital X-Rays to do general diagnostics, identify abnormalities, and create a custom treatment plan as needed.
If it’s been longer than six months since your last checkup or cleaning, get back on track with healthy teeth by giving us a call.
New Patient Comprehensive Exam
If you’re a new patient, the dentist will perform a complete oral health checkup to get you started. Our dental assistants will take X-rays that help Dr. Hale address issues beyond what the visual eyes can see.
This provides a full picture of your current dental health and oral care routine. Dr. Hale will then propose treatment plans and answer any questions during this time. A complete exam takes about an hour.
- Oral cancer screening
- Screen for gum disease (Periodontal Disease); Bone Loss
- Chart tooth decay
- Analyze bite position
- Propose new dental treatments
- Review treatment options
- Discuss financing if needed
Routine Cleaning and Dental Checkups
Suppose you’re an established patient with our dental office. In that case, the dentist performs a routine oral exam (also referred to as a periodic exam) at your dental cleaning appointment. Routine exams are essential to ensuring a healthy smile in the long run. This is a much shorter appointment that is completed alongside the dental hygienist.
- Update bitewing X-Rays and panoramic X-Ray, if needed
- Review concerning areas
- Discuss outstanding treatment
- Propose new treatment, if any
- Annual periodontal charting
Focused Oral Exam
A focused dental exam is where a dentist will address a specific concern. This is a short (and sweet) appointment where tooth pain is likely present. Sometimes you just need reassurance about something, or maybe you have a question. Ask for a focused exam!
Urgent pain? Ask for an Emergency Exam
Your tooth doesn’t have to be traumatized or broken to experience a dental emergency. While it may seem that a dental emergency consists of someone who has excessive bleeding, broken jaw bones etc., it’s not! An emergency can be something as simple as pain at the gumline. Pain is an emergency, and it’s a sign you need to call your dentist!
Here are some other reasons for an emergent exam:
- Pain in the mouth, tooth, jaw areas, or gums
- Dental abscess or sores
- Lingering pain that doesn’t go away
- Major accidents such as broken teeth
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
The ADA recommends visiting the dentist twice a year. This helps find and treat more minor problems that might otherwise get worse and become much larger, more severe conditions.
X-Rays at the Dentist in Fort Wayne
An essential part of the exam includes the use of diagnostic X-rays. We use the highest standard and most up-to-date technology to ensure an effective and safe environment for digital X-Rays.
Visual exams don’t allow the dentist to see what’s going on beyond the tooth surface, but X-Rays can see through the tooth and into the root. Without a proper X-Ray image, your dentist will not be able to make a confident diagnosis. Plus, annual X-rays are an essential part of your dental exam and to keep your oral health in check.
Hale Family Dentistry provides you with the comprehensive services you need to maintain a healthy smile. We are here for you, from routine exams and digital x-rays to emergency care. Schedule a dental visit today and let us help keep your oral health in check, your gums healthy, and your smile shining brightly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks to faster film speeds, digital X-Rays combined with the protective aprons and thyroid collars used to shield the body from exposure makes modern-day dental X-Rays far superior to those of even a decade ago.
There are many organizations that help manage the safety around X-Ray machines: Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Indiana State Law, and the American Dental Association (ADA) to name a few. Dental practices in Indiana must abide by the local state laws.
Dental practices should have an inspection card visible with expiration date on the X-Ray unit to ensure proper safety protocols of that X-Ray machine have been taken. This helps maintain a safe environment for both employees and patients.
X-rays, also called radiographs, help your dentist spot conditions, like cavities, tooth misalignment, and abscesses that they can’t see through a visual examination.
X-rays are especially important for children because they are generally more susceptible to tooth decay than adults.
The benefits of X-rays, which include diagnosing decay, pathology, or any abnormalities, far outweigh the risks of exposure to this minimal dose of radiation.
Your X-ray schedule depends on a number of factors including your medical and dental history.
Generally, patients without a history of cavities or dental disease are recommended to undergo one set of X-rays every one or two years.
The best way to reduce the number of X-rays you need is to follow good oral hygiene at home. Floss, floss, floss!
Radiation exposure safety is taken seriously for all ages. For patients who are pregnant or children under five, X-Rays are not taken unless necessary.