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Nicholas Dose, DMD Family Dentistry
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What Happens During a Routine Dental Exam?

added on: April 25, 2021

It is recommended everyone sees us Nicholas Dose, DMD Family Dentistryfor a routine exam at least twice a year. These routine dental exams should be positive experiences and allow patients to focus on a key part of their health that often gets taken for granted.

First, Meet Your Hygienist


You will interact with two people during a routine dental exam. That is our hygienist and our dentist. The hygienist is the person who will be with you for most of the appointment. Hygienists are trained professionals who take care of a variety of jobs in the office.

Your hygienist will need to know about any relevant medical history, especially if this is your first time at a particular practice. Feel free to talk to our hygienist about any other personal information you may find relevant to your dental exam so they can make sure you are as calm and comfortable as possible throughout the process.

The Cleaning

Once our hygienist has all the necessary information, your cleaning will begin. Our hygienist will scrape away excess food and any plaque or tartar built up on your teeth and gum line. Next, we will finish the process with a tooth polisher. The tooth polisher is applied by a tool with a spinning head. It makes your tooth smoother and more difficult for plaque and tartar to build up after your cleaning.

Next, Meet Our Dentist

After the cleaning process, our hygienist will be careful to examine throughout your mouth for any dentin, tooth enamel softening, swelling, or anything else to indicate your mouth is in less than ideal shape. You may also receive an x-ray to examine what is happening in your mouth beneath the surface. Before it’s time to leave, our dentist will check-in and let you know if there are any issues, abnormalities, or important next steps.

If you have not had a dental exam within the last year, it is in your best interest to schedule one as soon as possible. If you have more questions about what happens during a routine dental exam, please do not hesitate to call us today.

About The Author
Dr. Nicholas Dose

Dr. Nicholas Dose grew up in a dental family and knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue dentistry. He keeps up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field and is an active member of various dental organizations, where he and his peers discuss dentistry treatments and trends. Among the organizations he is active with are the Academy of General Dentistry, American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry, Clackamas County Dental Society, American Dental Association, and the Oregon Dental Association.

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