A clinical exam is more commonly referred to as a routine check up. This check up lets Dr. Pottinger take inventory of the overall health of your mouth and teeth to diagnose any potential problems you may have.
The first thing Dr. Pottinger will check during the exam is your face and neck for any abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps or swelling.
Next Dr. Pottinger will look for any abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers on your lips, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks. She will also perform an oral cancer screening and will check your bite and your jaw joint for any problems.
Dr. Pottinger will also check your gums and jawbone, as they are the foundation for your teeth. The Dentist and a Registered Dental Hygienist will check for any signs of gingivitis, gum disease, or bone disease.
Checking your teeth comes next. Dr. Pottinger will evaluate for cavities or any other problems. She will be sure to look specifically at any areas where you may have symptoms or concerns.
X-rays
In most cases, a clinical exam is not sufficient to completely diagnose all potential problems with your mouth. In fact, the majority of problems with your teeth and the jawbone are not visible to the naked eye. That is why x-rays play a key role in allowing a better, and more accurate look at what is really going on inside your mouth and below your teeth and gums. By using x-rays your dentist can check for any bone loss and determine the severity of gum disease.
In addition to revealing any problems that were not visible during the clinical exam these initial x-rays will also provide your dentist with a benchmark with which to compare against during your future visits.
Dental Cleaning
Most people have heard of gingivitis, but you've probably never heard the word prophy. Prophy is short for prophylactic teeth cleaning. A prophylactic dental cleaning is a routine procedure. Those who have not had their teeth cleaned in a long while may expect to experience a longer cleaning or multiple visits. One can expect the average dental cleaning to take between 30 minutes to an hour. A Registered Dental Hygienist will performs the dental cleaning. We will check the amount of plaque and tarter build up as well as the color and shape of the gums as indicators for gum disease. We also measure the pockets that form between the gums and teeth. Destructive bacteria contained in plaque and tarter cause the formation of these pockets. Any pocket that measures greater than 3mm is probably an indication of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when gingivitis is left untreated and can lead to bone loss or even tooth loss. The good news is that gingivitis can be treated with a dental cleaning and routine oral hygiene at home. With proper and regular brushing and flossing, you can prevent gingivitis from reoccurring.
New Patient Info
Doing an exam and x-rays will help Dr. Pottinger learn more about your dental health and help her decide how to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. New patients can download, fill out and bring with them to their first appointment the "New Patient Information Form." Having this form filled out before coming to your appointment will help expediate the process. If you have any questions regarding the form you may call or wait and ask once you arrive at the office for your appointment.
cleaning. A prophylactic dental cleaning is a routine procedure. Those who have not had their teeth cleaned in a long while may expect to experience a longer cleaning or multiple visits. One can expect the average dental cleaning to take between 30 minutes to an hour. A Registered Dental Hygienist will performs the dental cleaning. We will check the amount of plaque and tarter build up as well as the color and shape of the gums as indicators for gum disease. We also measure the pockets that form between the gums and teeth. Destructive bacteria contained in plaque and tarter cause the formation of these pockets. Any pocket that measures greater than 3mm is probably an indication of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when gingivitis is left untreated and can lead to bone loss or even tooth loss. The good news is that gingivitis can be treated with a dental cleaning and routine oral hygiene at home. With proper and regular brushing and flossing, you can prevent gingivitis from reoccurring. 
