Dental Exams

How Often Should I Get a Dental Checkup?

It’s recommended to see the dentist every six months. Your dentist may recommend more visits depending on your oral health. For example, if you have swollen, bleeding gums (known as gingivitis) or other gum diseases, take medications that cause dry mouth (which can cause tooth decay), or have health conditions or habits (such as smoking) that affect your oral health, your dentist may want to see you more often. Even if you no longer have your natural teeth, it’s essential to see your dentist for regular dental checkups to maintain your oral health and the usefulness of your replacement teeth.

What Happens at a Routine Dental Exam?

At Bella Risa Dental, we provide comprehensive dental examinations in Bakersfield, CA. If you’re anxious about having a dental exam, share your concerns with us, and we’ll adjust your treatment to help you feel more comfortable. During a typical dental exam, we will do the following:   

• Evaluate teeth, gums, and joints: During your dental exam, Dr. Iliana Hernandez Infante, DDS, will check your teeth for visual evidence of tooth decay, loose teeth, broken teeth, or damaged fillings. We’ll also examine your gums for gum disease, swelling, receding gums, and deep gum pockets. The dentist will also evaluate your bite (the way the top and bottom teeth fit together) and the movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs), as well as perform a head, neck, and lymph node examination for swelling, lumps, deformities, and any other symptoms of illness.  
• Oral cancer screening: In addition to examining the teeth and the gums, the dentist will look for signs of oral cancer in your mouth, such as lesions, lumps, or discolorations. If we find an unusual spot that we’d like to investigate further, we may obtain a biopsy of the area to send off to a lab for further review or refer you to an oral surgeon for a second opinion. As with any form of cancer, early detection significantly increases treatment success, and regular dental checkups can detect oral cancer, which is more easily treatable during the early stages.
• Dental X-Rays: Dental x-rays are images that can show cavities, gum disease, bone loss, and other problems that can’t be seen by just looking at the mouth. Dental X-rays may or may not be taken during your exam. Our dentist will consider your oral exam, dental history, and risk for developing cavities to decide if you need X-rays. Radiation exposure from dental X-rays is very low, but you can talk to the dentist if you’re concerned.
• Diagnosis and treatment planning if necessary: After your examination, Dr. Iliana Hernandez Infante, DDS, will discuss your oral health, diagnose any oral health problems found and develop a treatment plan.

Dental Exam Cost

The cost of dental exams is typically covered by dental insurance. Dental insurance generally covers the cost of routine dental exams, including X-rays. If you have any questions about your coverage, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Bella Risa dental team.