{"id":415,"date":"2025-04-04T20:18:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T20:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=415"},"modified":"2025-06-05T20:20:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:20:22","slug":"what-dentist-looks-for-dental-checkup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/04\/what-dentist-looks-for-dental-checkup\/","title":{"rendered":"What Your Dentist Looks for During Checkups \u2013 Besides Cavities!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-300x201.png\" alt=\"Dentist examining a patient\u2019s smile\" class=\"wp-image-416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image.png 616w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re consistent about making regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">checkup and cleaning<\/a> appointments, you\u2019re probably familiar with the process. Your dentist scans your teeth for cavities, you lie about how frequently you floss, they remind you how important daily oral hygiene is, and then it\u2019s on to the cleaning. Right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not exactly \u2013 your dentist does a lot more during these checkups! Keep reading, and you\u2019ll learn what else they\u2019re doing while you\u2019re sitting back with your mouth open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Screening for Oral Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy dentist screens for cancer?\u201d That\u2019s right! Oral cancers can be particularly dangerous if they\u2019re not diagnosed early, so during every checkup, your dentist looks for abnormal lumps, swelling, mouth sores, and discoloration. Visiting their office every six months is a good way to monitor for oral cancer warning signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing Your Bite and Jaw<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Good oral function isn\u2019t just about having healthy teeth. If your bite or jaw are misaligned, for example, it can be much harder to eat, speak, and properly digest your food. This type of misalignment can also contribute to TMJ disorders and jaw pain. To help you avoid needing extensive dental work in the future, your dentist watches your jaw movements closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking for Signs of Bruxism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBruxism\u201d is simply a fancy word for grinding or clenching your teeth. Some patients do this when they\u2019re nervous or stressed, while others do it unconsciously in their sleep. Bruxism can cause premature dental wear and excessive strain, often manifesting in tooth sensitivity, an aching jaw, or cracks in your enamel. If your dentist notices these tell-tale signs, they\u2019ll likely recommend a custom nightguard to help protect your pearly whites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Checking on Your Dental Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have a dental crown? No? What about a filling or dental implant? If you have any sort of existing dental work, your dentist is also making sure that it\u2019s still holding up well! Whether you have dental cosmetics or restorations, your dentist will monitor them so you can get them repaired or replaced promptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you think? Your dentist is pretty thorough during checkups, right? Your oral function and wellness are closely connected to your general health, so your dentist wants to make sure they\u2019re doing their part as your dental care provider. Simply schedule your appointments every six months, and they\u2019ll do the rest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Alexandria N. Arditti<\/a> earned her dental degree from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC and has a background in disease prevention studies and health promotion. She believes strongly that health and wellbeing are connected and diligently examines her patients for potential oral conditions during checkups. If you\u2019d like to know more about what she looks for, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificviewdentalgroup.com\/contact-us.html\">contact her office<\/a> at 714-592-4294.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re consistent about making regular checkup and cleaning appointments, you\u2019re probably familiar with the process. Your dentist scans your teeth for cavities, you lie about how frequently you floss, they remind you how important daily oral hygiene is, and then it\u2019s on to the cleaning. Right? Not exactly \u2013 your dentist does a lot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Your Dentist Looks for During Checkups | Pacific View Dental Group<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your dentist does more than scan your mouth for cavities during your biannual checkups! 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