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Routine & Emergency Exams

Dental Exams at NorthShore

Routine Oral Exams

NorthShore recommends that patients have a routine oral examination every 6 months. This visit will include more than just a look inside the mouth. The doctor will also examine the head and neck region using palpation, or feeling, with their hands for any abnormalities. Dental X-rays will also be taken to give us a visualization between the teeth and below the gumline to areas that are not able to be seen with the naked eye. These X-rays allow your dental professional to properly diagnose dental conditions, such as periodontal disease, dental decay (cavities), etc. X-rays also help assist the dental team in identifying any previous dental work that may have been completed in another office.

*NorthShore, in accordance with the American Dental Association, recommend that children have their first dental exam when their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday.

Emergency Exams

NorthShore provides emergency examinations for patients experiencing acute pain or swelling. During an emergency exam only the problem area will be addressed. An X-ray will be taken of the problem area, and the Dentist will then examine the localized pain to determine the appropriate treatment.

If the pain is coming from the area of the wisdom tooth/teeth a special type of X-ray, called a panoramic X-ray, may be needed to further determine whether the patient might be better served by a specialist, called an Oral Surgeon.

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