Dental Exam in Washington, D.C.

If you want to stay healthy, you need to be proactive with dental problems by getting them diagnosed and treated before they become bigger issues. This is why it's important to schedule a dental exam for you and your family. While teeth are checked during a cleaning, a dental exam provides a much more in-depth analysis. Dental exams at Ingber Dental evaluate your overall and oral health by checking for signs of oral cancer, diseases, and tooth decay. Dr. Kenneth Ingber and his team of skilled dental professionals will determine your need for treatments and check your bite and jaw for problems. A series of x-rays will be taken to get a better insight into the health of your teeth, jaw, and gums. If you live in or near Washington, D.C., schedule a dental exam for your family at Ingber Dental.

Oral cancer includes any abnormal group of cells in the mouth, including the jawbone, gums, lips, throat, tongue, and salivary glands. Every dental examination at Ingber Dental includes an oral cancer screening to look for early signs, including sores, inflammation, lumps, and lesions. We will also palpate the neck and jaw for abnormalities. If any areas of concern are found, a biopsy may be performed or you will be referred to a specialist for further care.

Washington, D.C. patients of all ages should get a dental exam every year. Many common conditions, like gum disease (the biggest cause of tooth loss), do not have symptoms you can notice. When concerns are caught early, you are more likely to have more treatment options.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children go to the dentist before their first birthday. We can help with problems, like using pacifiers, teething, and baby bottle tooth decay. The team at Ingber Dental can teach you how to care and clean your baby's mouth so they start healthy habits early — this will also help them throughout their life. Dental exams are also crucial for children as they get older as their mouth develops.

Your examination will start with an overall assessment of your tongue, teeth, gums, throat, the roof of your mouth, inside your cheeks, and other oral checkpoints. This includes looking for signs of oral cancer in your mouth. A member of our team will take digital x-rays and screen for abnormal tissue in the gums, as well as identify any cavities or areas of decay. We will evaluate your head, neck, and jaw, including your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and bite. We will then talk about any concerns found and how to best treat them and discuss any health conditions you have, prescriptions you may be taking, and how they might impact your oral health by causing dry mouth and tooth decay. Finally, we will examine any prosthetics you have, like bridges and dentures, to check the fit and wear.

When to schedule your next appointment will depend on your oral health. If no problems are identified, then the only follow-up would be to continue a home oral care routine, including brushing and flossing twice a day, along with annual dental exams and bi-annual cleanings at Ingber Dental. If an issue is found that needs to be treated, options will be discussed and scheduled.

Since a dental exam is critical to your dental health, it is usually covered by dental insurance. Our office will talk to your insurance company to understand your coverage and any out-of-pocket costs. If you do not have dental insurance, Ingber Dental accepts many payment options, including medical financing. Our financial team works with you to make sure you can afford good oral health.

True oral health means you do not just go to the dentist only when something goes wrong. You have to be proactive with preventive care. It can save your teeth and gums, as well as a significant amount of time and money. We recommend visiting Ingber Dental annually for a dental examination. Doing so will enable you to stay on top of problems by catching them early. We work hard to make dental examinations a positive experience for you so you will enjoy coming back. Contact our office in Washington, D.C. to make your exam.