The dentist will look in your mouth for things that can affect your oral - and your overall - health. Many of these are things you can't see on your own, but that a dentist is trained to detect. Here is some of what your dentist is looking for during a dental exam:

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·        damaged, missing, or decayed teeth

·        early signs of cavities

·        condition of your gums, such as periodontal pockets, inflammation or other signs of             gum disease (which can lead to tooth and bone loss)

·        to see how previous dental work such as root canals, fillings and crowns are holding             up

·        early signs of mouth or throat cancer, such as white lesions or blocked salivary glands

·        other suspicious growths or cysts

·        position of your teeth (e.g., spacing, bite)

·        signs that you clench or grind your teeth (a treatable problem that can cause                         headache or sore jaw and can, if serious, lead to hearing loss and tooth loss)

·        signs of bleeding or inflammation on your tongue and on the roof or floor of your                  mouth

·        the overall health and function of your temporomandibular joint (which joins the jaw            to skull), checking for signs of disorders that can cause pain or tenderness

·        the general condition of the bones in your face, jaw and around your mouth