Our practice is committed to providing you and your family with safe, gentle, high-quality dental care. We understand that you or your child may feel anxious about visiting the dentist. We are sensitive to your needs, and it is our goal to make you feel comfortable visiting our practice while providing the best care possible.
Regular Dental Office Visits
Your first visit is all about you – your comfort, your happiness, and your health.
Regular exams are important in maintaining oral health. During your regular exam, we will:
- Check for any problems that you may not see or feel
- Look for cavities or any other signs of tooth decay
- Inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease
- Perform thorough teeth cleaning
Bring your smile, but also remember to bring these with you to your first appointment:
- Your completed patient information form
- Your insurance card
Dental Exams
Regular checkups are an important part of maintaining a healthy smile!
Your regular exam will take about 45 minutes. Each regular exam includes a detailed tooth cleaning, in which we will clean, polish, and rinse your teeth to remove any tartar and plaque that have built up on the tooth’s surface. We will also check your teeth and gums for any cavities or early signs of tooth decay or gingivitis.
During your first visit, we will review your dental and medical history forms and take X-rays of your teeth and mouth. Then, the doctor will meet with you to discuss your X-rays, help you create your own individual treatment plan, and answer any questions that you may have.
Visiting our office every six months allows you to talk to the doctor about any questions you may have about your oral health. Regular exams are offered by appointment only, so please contact our practice today to schedule your next dental exam and teeth cleaning.
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. We understand that you have a busy schedule, so when you’re preparing to visit the dentist, please remember that your appointments can last between 45 and 90 minutes.
Patient Resources
Oral Cancer Screening
Our office is not only dedicated to your smile, we’re also dedicated to your overall wellness. We take a holistic approach to your dental care, which includes an oral cancer screening as a part of your regular exam. Like many kinds of cancer, oral cancer can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.
We have the skills and tools to ensure that early signs and symptoms of oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. While other, less serious problems may cause these symptoms, it is very important to visit our office to rule out the possibility of oral cancer.
Diagnosing Oral Cancer
The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:
- Red or white spots or sores anywhere in the oral cavity
- A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
- A lump, thickening, or rough spot
- Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
Our team is trained in a simple, quick screening that involves an examination of your oral cavity as a whole, and not just your teeth, to detect cancerous and precancerous conditions. Besides a visual examination of your mouth, we will also feel your mouth and throat tissue to detect any abnormalities.
If we find an area of concern, we may perform a simple test, such as a brush test, which collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. We may recommend a biopsy if this test returns atypical or positive.
Aside from receiving an oral cancer screening during your checkup at our office, there are many things you can do to help prevent oral cancer:
- Avoid all tobacco products and only drink alcohol in moderation.
- Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
- Limit your exposure to the sun and always wear UV-A/B-blocking, sun-protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.
Ask your dentist to perform an oral exam during your next dental appointment. Early detection of oral cancer can improve the chance of successful treatment.
Schedule An Appointment
Call (254) 274-0979 or request a dental consultation online. We serve patients in Bellmead, Waco (Hewitt office), Harker Heights, and Killeen. Please visit our most convenient location for you.