Short answer
A comprehensive dental exam is a full check of your teeth, gums, bite, jaw and the soft tissues of your mouth, usually with X-rays. It is the starting point for a new patient and typically takes about an hour, longer if a cleaning is added. At Richmond Dental Care a new-patient comprehensive exam with panoramic and intraoral X-rays is $99 self-pay, or $179 with a basic cleaning (see our dental prices).
How is a comprehensive exam different from a regular checkup?
A regular checkup, sometimes called a periodic exam, is a follow-up. The dentist looks for changes since your last visit, checks any problem spots and reviews your cleaning. It is quick because the baseline already exists.
A comprehensive exam builds that baseline. It is done when you are new to a practice, when it has been several years since your last visit, or when your health has changed a lot. The dentist records every tooth, every filling and crown, your gum measurements and your bite, so future visits have something to compare against.
| Comprehensive exam | Periodic (recall) exam | Limited exam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it is used | First visit, or after a long gap | Routine visits, often every 6 months | One specific problem, like a toothache |
| What is checked | Whole mouth, gums, bite, soft tissues, full X-rays | Changes since last visit, X-rays as needed | The problem area only |
| Result | Full written treatment plan | Updates to your plan | Diagnosis and options for that one issue |
What does the dentist check during a comprehensive exam?
Each step answers a different question about your mouth. Here is what usually happens, in roughly this order.
Health history and your concerns
We start by asking about your medical conditions, medicines and allergies. Many medicines cause dry mouth, and some conditions such as diabetes affect the gums. We also ask what is bothering you, if anything, and what you want from your teeth.
Teeth and existing dental work
The dentist looks at each tooth for decay, cracks, worn edges and chips. Old fillings and crowns get checked for leaks or gaps at the edges, since decay can start underneath them without pain.
Gum measurements
A small ruler-like probe measures the space between each tooth and the gum. Healthy spaces are shallow. Deeper pockets, bleeding or receding gums can point to gum disease, which often has no pain early on. If pockets are deep, the dentist may talk with you about scaling and root planing instead of a regular cleaning.
X-rays
A panoramic X-ray shows your whole upper and lower jaw in one picture, including wisdom teeth, bone levels and the joints. Intraoral X-rays are smaller, close-up images that show decay between teeth and around roots. Together they show problems the eye cannot see, such as an infection at the tip of a root or bone loss from gum disease.
Bite and jaw
The dentist checks how your teeth meet, looks for flattened or chipped teeth that suggest grinding, and asks about jaw soreness or clicking. If you grind at night, a custom night guard may be suggested to protect your teeth.
Oral cancer check
Your lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palate and throat are looked at and felt for sores, lumps or color changes. Your neck and jaw are checked for swollen glands. This oral cancer screening is a visual and hands-on check by the dentist, with no special lights or dyes. It takes a few minutes and is part of every comprehensive exam. If anything looks suspicious, we refer you to a specialist for a biopsy. Our post on oral cancer screening cost explains what this part of the exam involves.
What happens after the exam?
The dentist walks you through what was found, using your X-rays so you can see it too. Findings usually fall into three groups: things that need care soon, things to watch, and things that are healthy.
You get a written treatment plan with costs before any treatment starts. If you have insurance, we verify your benefits before the visit, so the plan shows what your plan is expected to cover. Nothing beyond the exam and X-rays happens unless you agree to it.
How should you prepare for your first visit?
- Bring a list of your medicines, including vitamins and supplements.
- Bring your insurance card if you have one, so it can be verified ahead of time.
- If you have recent X-rays from another office, ask them to send copies. This can save you from repeat images.
- Write down any questions or problem spots so you do not forget them in the chair.
- Fill out forms early using our new patient information. You can preview the office in our photo gallery.
How often do you need a comprehensive exam?
Most people need a full comprehensive exam only once at a new practice, and then again if several years pass between visits or their health changes a lot. In between, routine checkups and cleanings keep things on track. Many people come every six months, but people with gum disease or a high risk of cavities may be asked to come more often.
Our exams and cleanings are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, which helps families in Richmond and across Fort Bend County fit a visit in without missing work or school.
When to call us
Book a comprehensive exam if it has been more than a year since your last visit, if your gums bleed when you brush, if a tooth is sensitive or sore, or if you have a sore in your mouth that has not healed in two weeks. Call (832) 612-2831 — we’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm. You can also book online.
Frequently asked questions
Not always. The exam and X-rays are one step and the cleaning is another. As a new patient at Richmond Dental Care you can book the exam, X-rays and a basic cleaning together for $179 self-pay, if your gums are healthy enough for a basic cleaning.
Most PPO dental plans include a comprehensive exam as a preventive benefit, often once every few years per practice. We verify your plan before the visit so you know what to expect.
For most people it is not. The gum measurements can feel like light pressure, and sore or inflamed gums may be tender. Tell us if anything hurts and we will go slower.
You get a written plan with options and costs first. You can schedule treatment, ask for time to think it over, or ask questions. Nothing is done without your OK.
Sources
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Every mouth is different — the right treatment for you depends on an exam.