The Comprehensive Dental Exam
Aging affects the teeth and mouth in several
ways: Saliva, a natural dental protectant, becomes less abundant,
allowing cavity-causing bacteria to thrive. Pearly white teeth lose
their sheen, sometimes taking on a dingy gray hue. Old fillings
sometimes break. But the most worrisome age-related dental problem is
periodontal, or gum, disease -- a major reason 30 percent of people
over 65 lose all of their teeth. To detect periodontal disease before
it does serious damage, you need regular dental care.
Who needs it
The Academy of General Dentistry recommends twice yearly checkups for
people of all ages, but only about half of us actually go that often.
How it's done
The dentist does a visual exam of your mouth,
looking not just for cracked and decayed teeth, but also for growths
and sores on the tongue, palate, and mucous membrane that lines the
cheeks and covers the gums. Some dentists now use intra-oral cameras,
tiny video cameras placed inside the mouth to project greatly enlarged
images on color monitors. Dental X rays, however, are still necessary
to detect hidden problems, particularly below the gums. The scheduling
of X-ray exams is individualized for each patient. Your dentist may
also use a pointed probe to measure the depth of your gum pockets. This
quick exam can help determine whether you're beginning to show any
signs of gum disease.
What the results mean
If your dentist finds cavities, cracked
teeth, or broken fillings, he'll determine the best option for repair
(filling, crown, root canal, extraction). He will recommend careful
flossing and regular use of an antiseptic mouthwash and may refer you
to a periodontist or oral surgeon if you have severe or rapidly
advancing gum disease.