Oral Tests

PH
We conduct oral pH tests to determine the relative acidity in the mouth. This can be an important gauge of your immediate state of health. Many of the microorganisms that can contribute to oral diseases are anaerobic (they thrive in an oxygen-poor medium). A low pH (or acidic) environment is a potential indication of problems, and should be monitored.

Vitamin C Test
Vitamin C plays a great many important roles in the human body. On top of its well-documented effects in supporting general health, vitamin C is also essential in the construction and maintenance of collagen, a connective tissue. Vitamin C deficiencies may contribute to gum disease by limiting the body's ability to maintain the connective tissues between tooth and bone.

Zinc Test
Zinc is one of many minerals your body needs to maintain good health and is critical in the healing processes. However, zinc can be depleted by physical or emotional stresses, or by the consumption of diuretics (either in tablet form, or caffeinated beverages). Because of this, many of us suffer a zinc deficiency without even knowing it.

Oral Galvanism Screening
Many dental restorations are made of metal. No metals used in dentistry are pure, or unalloyed, however. This opens the potential for dental electrical currents to be produced. Through the use of a dental galvanometer presence of electrical currents in the mouth are measured. This information is useful in analyzing levels of mercury exposure.

Soft Tissue Examination

When most people think of a dental examination, they think of an evaluation of the teeth. The other tissues provide us a great deal of information about your health, both oral and general. Inflammation or changes to the condition of these tissues may affect the treatment offered to you. Continuing irritation of tissues may lead to some forms of oral cancer.

Oral health and systemic health are generally one and the same. If the soft tissues of the mouth are inflamed or are in otherwise poor health, the same is likely to be true elsewhere in the body. When we treat local problems properly, we affect the overall health.

Muscle Palpation
Often, when the teeth do not mesh completely, the muscles of the jaw must be called into action to position the jaw more comfortably. Over time these muscles may become cramped or stressed by performing extra duty. The doctor will press gently over these areas to see if the muscles are so affected. Some of the muscles checked are on the outside of the mouth and sid

Complete Tooth Survey and Examination

Obviously, when you see a dentist, sooner or later he's going to want to look at your teeth. The dentist conducts a visual survey of your teeth to see where you already have fillings or other restoration as well as check for signs of visible tooth decay or other concerns that may require attention.

Wear and Stress Check
Often in dentistry, the dentist and staff are so involved with fixing immediate problems, such as a broken tooth, that we fail to ask very basic questions (such as, "Why did this tooth break to begin with?"). If we could prevent problems from occurring, we could prevent the need for costly dental treatment. By looking at early signs of stress or wear on teeth, the doctor is evaluating the potential for problems to develop, and finding ways to prevent them.

Bony Tissue Examination

Care and restoration of the teeth may be ultimately futile if the surrounding tissue is in bad shape. Changes in bone density and the progression of periodontal disease can make radical changes in the supporting structures of the teeth. It is important to maintain the health of the bone to be able to keep your teeth.

Oral Cancer Screening

Not only will the doctor check the hard tissues (such as tooth and bone), but he will also evaluate the soft tissues. The inside surfaces of the mouth will be carefully checked to rule out changes to the tissues there (some of which may be precursors to different forms of oral cancer). The doctor will explain his findings to you.

Jaw Joint Examination

Finally, the examination is concluded with a screening of the health and function of your jaw joints. You will be asked to open wide, move your jaw from side to side and relax as the doctor checks the health of the joints on each side. He will also put some firm force on the jaw to check its state of health. This check is not uncomfortable at all, and provides valuable information about the jaw joints. Finally, the doctor will tap your teeth together gently to see if and where your teeth are slightly mismatched.