Dental exams are an absolute necessity because dental problems typically arise painlessly. Gum disease and tooth decay will not become painful until the problem is severe. When this occurs, treatment required to fix the problem is significant. The Dentist in Louisville would love to see you for routine examinations to determine if there are any small problems that would benefit from a small amount of treatment now in order to prevent a much larger issue later on. Whether you come in routinely for your exam and cleaning, or come in once the problem has become severe, an examination allows us to diagnose your issue and plan treatment that is appropriate for you.

A dental exam does not take very long. For a patient with a simple treatment plan, the exam would take only 5-10 minutes. For patients who have many problems that require diagnosis and complex treatment planning, the examination could take significantly longer. When this is the case, we will typically use your visit to gather information, including X-rays, intraoral photographs, and impressions. This allows the dentist to review your case without needing you to sit in the chair, waiting for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Then, about one week later, you return for a brief consultation visit. The dentist will review the diagnoses and propose a treatment plan. This minimizes the time spent in the chair, and it allows sufficient time to spend on complex treatment plans.