Exams

Dental Exam

During your initial visit, Dr. Giaquinto will give you a comprehensive exam. Dr. Giaquinto and his hygienist will make sure to:

• Examine diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): Necessary for finding decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. These x-rays are also used to diagnose developmental problems of teeth growing in.
• Screen for oral cancer: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
• Check for gum disease: Examination of the gums and bone around the teeth to find any signs of periodontal disease.
• Check for tooth decay: Use of special dental instruments to test all tooth surfaces for decay.
• Examine existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, and other restorations

Cleaning and Protection – Professional Dental Cleaning

One of our Registered Dental Hygienists or Dr. Giaquinto will perform a professional dental cleaning (dental prophylaxis) during your exam. The cleaning will involve:

• Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus comes from plaque build up that has hardened around the tooth. It forms both above and below the gum line, making the use of special dental instruments necessary to remove it from around the teeth.
• Removal of plaque: A sticky, almost invisible film, plaque is actually made up of living bacteria, food debris and saliva. When it forms on the teeth, the bacteria produces poisons that infect the gums, causing them to inflame. This inflammation is one of the first signs of periodontal disease.
• Teeth polishing: Through teeth polishing, your hygienist can remove stains and plaque that did not come off during the rest of the cleaning.

Cleaning and Protection – Dental X-Rays

Used as a preventive, diagnostic tool, dental x-rays, or radiographs, provide Dr. Giaquinto with a look at what’s going on under the gum line. The information that these x-rays provide is used to detect any abnormalities that aren’t visible during the actual exam or cleaning. Without these x-rays, Dr. Giaquinto will not have a complete picture of your mouth, and many problems could go undetected for a long period of time.

Dental x-rays often reveal:

• Abscesses or cysts
• Bone loss
• Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
• Decay between the teeth
• Developmental abnormalities
• Poor tooth and root positions
• Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line

X-rays help Dr. Giaquinto detect these dental problems at their earliest stages, which saves you time, money and pain in the long run!

Are dental x-rays safe?

Our everyday environment exposes us to natural radiation all the time. Dental x-rays from a full-mouth series emits the same level of radiation that a person receives on a daily basis from natural sources.

The low-level of radiation emitted by dental x-rays is considered safe, but we still take precautions to minimize how much exposure our patients receive. Using lead apron shields to cover the patients’ bodies enable us to keep our patients’ radiation exposure at the lowest level possible. In addition, our state-of-the-art digital x-rays reduce exposure by up to 90 percent when compared to traditional film methods.

How often should dental x-rays be taken?

Based on your medical and dental history, as well as your age, risk for disease and current signs/symptoms, Dr. Giaquinto and hygienist will be able to recommend the best time frame for dental x-rays. In the end, the frequency of these x-rays will depend largely on your individual needs.

We recommend a full-mouth series of x-rays for all our new patients, so we have a better idea of their current dental health. The full-mouth series is typically good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays, on the other hand, should be taken once or twice a year during regular check ups.