Preventative Dental Services

The secret to a bright, healthy smile is actually no secret at all: brush, floss and get a professional dental exam at least once a year. Professional dental exams focus on prevention – monitoring existing conditions and ensuring proactive steps are taken to avoid problems in the future. Regular dental exams make it possible to identify and treat a problem in its earliest stage – which is not only good for your oral health but also good for your budget!

There's nothing to fear with a dental exam. Dr. Murphy will visually examine your teeth for signs of plaque, tartar and tooth decay. Your gums will also be examined for puffiness and redness, which are signs of gum inflammation or disease. A full set of dental X-rays are taken during your dental exam, to enable Dr. Murphy to see below the surfaces of your teeth for signs of decay or bone loss. In addition, a full head and neck exam is performed in order to check for any jaw or soft tissue issues. At the end of the exam, Dr. Murphy will discuss any recommended treatment and next steps.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there were an estimated 54,000 new cases of oral cancer in the United States in 2022. Unfortunately, oral cancer has only a 68% five year relative survival rate. The keys to surviving oral cancer are early detection and early treatment. This starts with a regular oral cancer screening – at least once every six months. An oral cancer screening takes just minutes, is pain-free and performed during regular dental cleanings and exams. If you are male, a regular oral cancer screening is especially critical: oral cancer is more than twice as common in men as it is in women. Other people at high risk of oral cancer include people over the age of 60, tobacco smokers and heavy drinkers.

Dental X-rays have come a long way. Today's dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and more informative than the X-rays of years past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth, bone, and surrounding structures that can be viewed instantly by you and Dr. Murphy on a LCD monitor. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages.

Our office also has a Cone-Beam Computed Tomography system (CBCT) that allows Dr. Murphy to view your teeth, jaw, and skull in three dimensions. This information helps during exams to identify any abnormalities, such as tooth infections, suspicious lesions, restricted airways, and congested sinuses. In addition, Dr. Murphy uses your CBCT scan to precisely plan any desired implants to ensure the best position possible to optimize your bone anatomy and the esthetics of your future restoration.