Comprehensive Exams

woman in dentist chair smiling

At these exams, we take digital x-rays, if you need them, and check out your mouth with our intraoral camera so we can show you what’s going on in your mouth. We always check you for oral cancer and examine your gums for periodontal disease. Many patients tell us they have never had such a thorough exam before!

Hickory Dental X-Rays

We use both digital x-rays and panoramic x-rays to get the most complete view of your mouth, jaw, and neck.

Digital x-rays are great for so many reasons. Not only do they limit your exposure to radiation – using 75% less radiation than conventional x-rays – they are clearer, easier to read and share with you, and they can be kept in your electronic files for easy comparison visit to visit!

Our panoramic x-ray machine stays outside of your mouth and moves around your head in a half-circle, taking an image of your entire oral cavity. And while it’s true that panoramic x-rays won’t give us quite as clear a diagnostic image as the digital x-ray, but it does provide a terrific overview of your entire mouth letting us check the position of your wisdom teeth, look for sinus issues, bone density, and even abscesses.

Dental Hygiene Treatment

We just can’t say it enough: Keeping your teeth and gums clean and free of plaque bacteria, tartar, and other buildup is the first step toward great oral health. That’s why we recommend regular cleanings to our patients of all ages. During these visits our hygienist will not only evaluate the health of your gums, teeth, and mouth, she will get your teeth absolutely sparkling clean and fresh! To keep cleanings super comfortable, we use ultrasonic scalers, hand-held devices that use sound waves to clean and polish teeth, and remove stains, plaque, and even hardened tartar!