
What Happens at a Dental Exam?
Your exam is the foundation of a healthy smile. During the visit, the dentist takes a thorough look at your overall oral health, carefully evaluating the condition of your teeth and gums. Dental X-rays may be recommended when needed to assess areas beneath the surface. Digital X-rays and intraoral cameras let us find decay and wear early, while the fix is still small and straightforward. This assessment builds a clear understanding of your needs, and we walk you through what we have found before recommending anything.
What Your Exam Includes
A careful check of your oral health at every visit.
- Teeth and Gums A thorough evaluation of the condition of your teeth and gums.
- X-Rays When Needed Digital X-rays to assess areas beneath the surface, recommended only when they are needed.
- Clear Findings Intraoral camera images help us show you what we see.
Your First Visit
Contact our team before your visit to ask about registration paperwork and anything you can complete in advance. Bring your medical and dental history, a current medication list and insurance details if applicable. Before you leave, we schedule your next visit and go over what to expect.
What to Bring
- Your medical and dental history
- A current medication list
- Insurance details, if applicable
- Any completed patient forms
Part of Every Checkup
Exams pair with a dental cleaning and an oral cancer screening. See the full list of services.


The short answer
A dental exam is a thorough look at your overall oral health, carefully evaluating the condition of your teeth and gums. Digital X-rays may be recommended when needed to assess areas beneath the surface, and intraoral cameras help find decay and wear early while the fix is still small. Before you leave, your findings are explained in plain terms, your next visit is scheduled and you know what to expect at that appointment.
Dental Exams & X-Rays FAQ
- What happens during a dental exam?
- The dentist takes a thorough look at your overall oral health. That includes carefully evaluating the condition of your teeth and gums. We walk you through what we find before recommending anything.
- Will I need X-rays?
- Dental X-rays may be recommended when needed to assess areas beneath the surface. We use digital X-rays. They help find decay and wear early, while the fix is still small.
- What should I bring to my first visit?
- Bring your medical and dental history, a current medication list and insurance details if applicable. Contact our team beforehand to ask about paperwork you can complete in advance. That keeps your visit simple.
- What happens after my exam?
- Before you leave, we schedule your next visit. That may be your next routine exam and cleaning or another recommended treatment. We go over what to expect at that appointment.
Insurance & Financing
Benefits and participation vary by plan. Please contact our office so we can help you verify your coverage and understand your options before treatment.
CareCredit and Cherry are available. Terms and approval are set by each provider.
