At the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental, we prioritize proactive oral care because early detection makes treatment simpler and more predictable. A thorough oral exam is more than a quick check — it’s a structured review that combines hands-on evaluation, targeted screenings, and practical guidance so each visit leaves you with a clear plan to preserve your smile and oral function.
Every comprehensive exam begins with a thoughtful conversation. We review your medical history, current medications, and any symptoms or changes you’ve noticed — sensitivity, soreness, bite changes, or concerns about appearance. That context helps us focus the clinical exam and ensures proposed care fits your overall health profile.
The physical exam is systematic and focused. We inspect teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and the oral soft tissues, checking for wear, cracks, decay, and signs of gum inflammation. We evaluate jaw movement and bite alignment to spot patterns that suggest grinding, clenching, or functional strain that may need further attention.
When indicated, diagnostic imaging supplements the visual exam to reveal issues beneath the surface. After collecting findings, the dentist and hygienist review results with you, outline recommended next steps, and discuss practical options so you can make well-informed decisions about your care.
The mouth often reflects what’s happening elsewhere in the body. Persistent gum inflammation, recurrent sores, unexplained bleeding, or sudden changes in oral tissues can be early indicators of systemic conditions. During exams we document these findings and, when appropriate, advise coordination with your primary care provider.
Research continues to link oral inflammation with broader health issues such as cardiovascular strain, diabetes control challenges, and respiratory concerns. Identifying and managing oral disease early reduces local dental problems and can be an important part of maintaining overall health.
Conversely, some medical conditions first show signs orally — dry mouth, mucosal changes, and frequent infections may point toward metabolic, autoimmune, or medication-related issues. We note these clues carefully and communicate any concerns that warrant medical follow-up.
Daily brushing and flossing are the foundation of oral health, but even excellent home care can miss bacterial buildup below the gum line or between tight contacts. Professional cleanings remove hardened deposits and bacterial reservoirs that contribute to cavities and periodontal disease, helping tissues heal and remain healthy.
Routine visits are also a chance to hone preventive habits. We demonstrate effective brushing and interdental techniques, recommend tools suited to your mouth, and provide tailored advice on diet and habits that influence oral health. Small, practical adjustments at home can lead to big differences over time.
For younger patients, regular exams track growth and development so we can identify early orthodontic or interceptive needs. For adults, continuity of care makes it easier to interpret changes because we can compare current findings to past records and catch trends before they escalate.
Keeping a consistent schedule of exams and cleanings helps us find problems when they’re still straightforward to treat, which preserves more natural tooth structure and delivers better long-term outcomes.
Visual inspection is important, but imaging fills in the gaps the eye cannot see. Digital radiographs show tooth roots, the bone that supports teeth, and the spaces between teeth where decay often begins. These images are integral to accurate diagnosis and thoughtful treatment planning.
Digital radiography offers fast results with lower exposure than older film technologies, and images can be reviewed immediately with patients. That immediacy supports clearer explanations and helps you understand why a recommendation is being made.
For complex cases or when three-dimensional detail is necessary, we may recommend cone-beam CT scanning. CBCT provides precise 3D information that improves the safety and predictability of advanced procedures such as implant placement or surgical planning.
Different imaging techniques answer different clinical questions. Bitewing images are excellent for detecting decay between the back teeth, while periapical views let us evaluate a single tooth from crown to root and assess surrounding bone. Choosing the right image helps us target problems accurately without unnecessary exposure.
Periapical x-ray - evaluates the entire tooth from crown to root and nearby bone.
Bitewing x-ray - focuses on the crowns of posterior teeth to detect interproximal decay.
Full mouth series - a collection of images that together provide a complete dental overview.
Panoramic film (panorex) - captures a broad view of both jaws, teeth, and related structures in a single image.
Cephalometric film - used mainly for orthodontic planning to evaluate facial and jaw relationships.
When three-dimensional detail is needed, cone-beam CT (CBCT) provides a detailed reconstruction of bone and surrounding anatomy. This level of detail improves diagnosis and surgical planning for cases that demand precision.
Regular oral exams are the keystone of reliable dental care. By combining a careful clinical exam, targeted screenings, professional cleaning, and modern imaging when appropriate, our team helps patients maintain healthy, comfortable, and functional smiles. If you have questions about what an exam involves or would like guidance on scheduling, please contact us for more information.
Yes. We always welcome new patients and their families for care. Feel free to give us a call or reach out to us online to schedule a first visit or for any additional information on our office. We look forward to hearing from you!
Routine dental checkups and professional cleanings help ensure your smile remains in tip-top condition and that any developing problems receive the prompt care they require. While it's a good idea to schedule a checkup and cleaning twice a year, longer or shorter intervals between routine visits depend on your specific needs.
We understand that life gets complicated and busy, and for various reasons, you haven't been able to get to the dentist for care. Don't worry; it's always a good time to get back in touch with the health of your smile.
At Wonderful Smiles Dental, we offer skilled and compassionate care to address a wide range of dental needs. Whether you need a simple checkup and cleaning, restorations, periodontal treatment, root canal therapy, or the replacement of missing teeth to get your smile back into shape, we provide precise, gentle, stress-free treatment to give you a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy.
Give us a call today; we're happy to address all your questions and concerns about getting your smile back in tip-top condition.
For pregnant women, practicing good oral care and seeing the dentist to maintain a healthy smile is considered an important component of prenatal care. Researchers have found that pregnancy not only increases the risk of oral health problems, but these problems may also lead to pregnancy complications. At the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental, we provide the skilled and compassionate care required to help expectant mothers keep their teeth and gums in tip-top condition. While certain procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, we provide the necessary care and take all the necessary precautions required.
Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, teeth that have been affected by a range of imperfections or that have sustained damage from trauma or dental decay can be restored to produce a naturally beautiful looking and functional smile.
As skilled and experienced providers of care, our office can effectively improve and enhance the appearance of teeth that are stained, discolored, misshapen, chipped, fractured, gapped, crowded, or broken down due to dental decay. At the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental, we offer a comprehensive selection of the leading-edge cosmetic solutions from teeth whitening procedures, dental bonding, tooth-colored fillings, and veneers, to prosthetic solutions and dental implants to rebuild complete and beautiful smiles.
Contact our office to learn more about the many ways we can help you create the smile you've always wanted.
If you're visiting Wonderful Smiles Dental for the first time, it is helpful that you contact your former dental office and have your records sent over to us. Make note of any problems you may have so that you can discuss them with your dentist.
To provide efficient service, we ask you to please bring your insurance card, an ID, plus any referral slips or diagnostic records given to you by another office. If you are taking medications, please note or make a list of what they are as you will need to provide that information.
Yes! We assure you that both you and your family will be in good hands at the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental.
We do our best to make sure every patient who steps into our office for care is put at ease. We provide precise and gentle care and our skilled, compassionate team strives to make every visit stress-free. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands and that we are doing all we can to ensure your comfort throughout every procedure. While we always take the time to explain every step in care, feel free to ask us any questions about local anesthesia and methods of dental sedation.
At the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental, we strive to provide the highest quality of care to address all your dental needs. Once we've had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any dental issues that are present, along with a quote for what the cost of treatment will be. The cost of care all depends upon the extent and complexity of issues affecting the health or appearance of your smile and the types of procedures that are required. Our goal is to make dental care more affordable so that you can begin treatment without any additional stress or delay.
Keep in mind that with routine dental checkups and periodic care, we can help prevent dental disease while treating emerging problems early in their onset to avoid larger issues and more expensive care down the road.
Routine dental checkups and preventive care procedures may be covered under your dental insurance plan requiring little to no out-of-pocket expense. We invite you to check our financial information page or give us a call to find out if our office participates with your plan, and if you have any other questions about dental insurance, dental savings plans, forms of payment, or financing options. We welcome your inquiries and do our best to help you begin care without additional stress or delay.
If you've lost a tooth due to injury, decay, gum disease, or any other reason, we recommend dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants come the closest to replicating the look, feel, and function of your natural teeth.
Absolutely! Both flossing and brushing regularly are equally important to maintain your oral health. While brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, flossing cleans in between them. Flossing is important to prevent plaque buildup, which can cause gums to recede and lead to periodontal disease.
Even if you have dentures, it is still necessary to see a dentist! Dental checkups help ensure that your dentures are comfortable, fitting properly, and that there are no other problems. Beyond assessing your dentures, our dentist will also perform a thorough examination of the jawbone, and surrounding soft tissues both inside the mouth, the face, and neck, to confirm that you remain in good oral health.
Emergency dental care is a service we hope you'll never need- but if you do, the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental is here for you!
Whether you're suffering from a chipped tooth, toothache, or any problem affecting your oral health, you can be sure to get the prompt attention and compassionate care you require at our office. Patient care and comfort are our top priorities, and we offer a comprehensive range of the most advanced services to address a broad spectrum of dental needs.
While the pain of a toothache is one of the more common reasons that patients come to our office for emergency dental care, we also promptly treat emergencies that are not necessarily painful like crowns that have been dislodged and broken dentures that leave embarrassing gaps in one's smile.
You can rest assured that your oral health is in the best of hands at our office. We'll quickly determine exactly what's wrong, explain your treatment options, and then provide the precise and gentle care you require to alleviate your discomfort and get you back on the path to oral health and wellness.
Your health and comfort are our top priorities. If your dental emergency is painful, if it affects the appearance of your smile, or if you suspect that an infection is present, our office will make every effort to see you as soon as possible for care.
At the office of Wonderful Smiles Dental, we welcome patients of all ages for care and offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help every member of your family maintain a beautiful and healthy smile. Whether you or a loved one needs a routine checkup and cleaning, fillings, same-day crowns, a cosmetic smile makeover, the replacement of missing teeth or require the services of a skilled and compassionate emergency dentist, you can rely on our office for the highest quality care.
For more information on our office and the many services we provide, or to schedule an appointment for care, give us a call today.
An oral exam is a comprehensive clinical assessment of the teeth, gums, jaws and related structures that helps detect early signs of dental disease and oral abnormalities. During this exam, a dental professional inspects hard and soft tissues, evaluates bite and jaw function, and screens for conditions that could affect oral health. Regular oral exams are a cornerstone of preventive dentistry because they allow problems to be identified and managed before they progress.
Oral exams also provide an opportunity to review your medical history, medications and lifestyle factors that influence oral health. Identifying risk factors such as a history of tobacco use, dry mouth or systemic conditions lets the dental team tailor preventive care. When combined with routine cleanings and patient education, oral exams help preserve long-term function and comfort.
Your first checkup establishes a baseline for future care and gives the dental team a full picture of your oral and medical history. At Wonderful Smiles Dental we begin by reviewing health records and any current concerns, then perform a detailed clinical exam that includes a periodontal evaluation, occlusion assessment and an oral cancer screening. The clinician will also check for signs of bruxism, tooth wear and soft tissue abnormalities.
Diagnostic images such as digital x-rays are taken as needed to reveal tooth roots, bone levels and areas not visible during the visual exam. After the assessment, the dentist and hygienist will discuss findings, explain recommended preventive steps and outline any diagnostic or treatment options. You will leave with guidance on home care and a personalized recall plan based on your needs.
Most patients benefit from a comprehensive oral exam and professional cleaning every six months so the dental team can monitor changes and catch problems early. Patients with higher risk factors for decay, gum disease or other conditions may be advised to come more frequently, sometimes every three to four months, to better manage their oral health. Your dentist will recommend a recall schedule that reflects your health status, past history and current needs.
Consistency is important because many dental conditions develop slowly and are easier to treat when detected early. Regular exams also allow for ongoing patient education, timely updates to preventive care and adjustments to home hygiene routines. Keeping a consistent exam schedule supports both short-term comfort and long-term oral function.
Yes, an oral cancer screening is a routine component of a comprehensive oral exam and involves a careful inspection of the lips, tongue, floor and roof of the mouth, cheeks, gums and the back of the throat for any unusual lesions or changes. The dentist will look for persistent sores, white or red patches, lumps or other signs that may require further evaluation. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment, so screenings are an important preventive step.
If anything suspicious is found, the clinician will explain the findings, document them and recommend further diagnostic testing or a referral when appropriate. Patients should report any persistent oral sores, unexplained pain or changes in swallowing or speech between visits. Routine screenings combined with patient vigilance increase the likelihood that problems are identified promptly.
Dental x-rays complement the visual portion of an oral exam by revealing structures that cannot be seen with the naked eye, such as tooth roots, bone levels and areas of decay between teeth. These images help the dentist detect early cavities, evaluate periodontal bone loss and identify impacted or developing teeth. Without x-rays, many conditions would remain hidden until they become more advanced and harder to treat.
Thanks to digital radiography, x-ray images are acquired quickly with minimal radiation exposure and can be viewed immediately to inform diagnosis and treatment planning. The dental team uses these images along with the clinical exam to form a complete picture of oral health and to guide any recommended care. Your provider will explain why specific images are needed and how they contribute to your overall treatment plan.
The specific x-rays recommended depend on your oral health needs and the purpose of the visit; common images include bitewing x-rays to detect decay between teeth, periapical films to evaluate entire tooth roots and surrounding bone, and panoramic films to view the entire mouth in a single image. A full mouth series combines bitewings and periapicals for a comprehensive view, while cephalometric films provide profile images often used in orthodontic assessment. For complex cases or surgical planning, three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be used to visualize detailed anatomy.
Your dentist will select the least invasive and most informative imaging option for your situation and follow appropriate safety protocols. Digital radiographs reduce exposure and allow images to be stored in your electronic chart for monitoring changes over time. Clear communication about what is being imaged and why helps you understand the value of each diagnostic step.
An oral exam can reveal signs of systemic conditions because many diseases produce oral manifestations such as dry mouth, gum inflammation, oral lesions or changes in taste and swallowing. Research shows links between periodontal disease and systemic issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory conditions, so findings in the mouth can have implications beyond dental care. Because of these connections, dentists often coordinate with medical providers when oral findings suggest an underlying health concern.
During an exam, the dental team takes a thorough medical history and notes medications or symptoms that could affect oral health and general well-being. Sharing this information with your physician and following through on recommended medical evaluations can help ensure a more complete approach to health. Routine dental care therefore supports both oral health and broader health monitoring.
A professional dental cleaning, performed by a registered dental hygienist, focuses on removing plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and along the gumline to reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. The hygienist uses specialized instruments to scale hard deposits, cleans and polishes the teeth to remove surface stains, and may apply preventive measures such as topical fluoride when appropriate. The process typically includes measuring gum pockets and documenting any areas of concern for the dentist to review.
After the cleaning, the hygienist will review home care techniques and may demonstrate brushing and flossing methods tailored to your needs. You will receive guidance on any lifestyle or product changes that can improve your oral health and help maintain the results of the cleaning. Regular professional cleanings complement daily home care and are essential to long-term oral health maintenance.
Oral exams for children focus on early detection of decay, assessment of tooth and jaw development, and prevention through education and age-appropriate interventions. The dentist will evaluate primary teeth for cavities, monitor eruption patterns and assess the alignment of the developing bite to determine whether early orthodontic guidance might be beneficial. Pediatric exams also include counseling on diet, oral hygiene habits and preventive care such as fluoride treatments or sealants when indicated.
Establishing a dental home early helps children become comfortable with dental visits and supports preventive routines that last a lifetime. Regular exams allow the dental team to track growth, intervene when necessary and coordinate with parents about milestones and anticipated changes. Early, consistent care makes it easier to detect and address problems before they affect permanent teeth and overall oral function.
A comprehensive oral exam in our office combines a detailed clinical inspection with targeted diagnostic imaging, a periodontal assessment and an oral cancer screening to produce a complete evaluation of oral health. The clinician reviews your medical history and concerns, examines hard and soft tissues, assesses TMJ and bite function, and documents any areas that require monitoring or further diagnostics. When x-rays or three-dimensional imaging are needed, we use digital radiography and CBCT where appropriate to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
The treatment team then discusses findings with you, explains recommended preventive steps and outlines any diagnostic or therapeutic options in clear, patient-centered language. Education and shared decision-making are central to the visit so you understand the reasons behind recommendations and the path forward. By combining thorough exams with ongoing communication, Wonderful Smiles Dental aims to deliver care that preserves oral health and supports overall well-being.
