Thank you, for taking the time to visit our website. In order to meet our office’s goal of helping our patients maintain a beautiful and confident smile in a healthy mouth, I need to get to know you as a unique individual prior to looking in your mouth. This is the initial step of the comprehensive oral health evaluation.  Please take time to think about and reflect on your previous dental experiences and how they relate to your present oral health. We will discuss your dental history to help gain valuable insight and allow us to reach your desired outcomes.

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You will have the opportunity to express what you want for yourself both functionally and esthetically, what your concerns are, and how you see your present level of oral health. I want to know your expectations for our office and staff, and how your past experiences affect this.  In short, I understand your concerns and opinions are essential to providing the level of service you expect.

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The next step is a clinical examination. This is accomplished with your help and input. Comprehensive exams are much different than the “checkup” you may have experienced in the past. In order to reach a complete understanding of your present state of health, I must gather data about your muscles, Temporomandibular (jaw) joints and occlusion (bite), and how these three components work together in your mouth. Evaluating the health of the periodontium (gums) and surrounding soft tissues as well as an oral cancer screening is also part of the process. A complete assessment of the state of each individual tooth as well as the condition of any existing restorations or prostheses is an integral part of the process.

An esthetic evaluation may be part of the process if you express concerns about the way your teeth look. Throughout the exam, I will be asking you what you are feeling, wondering, and thinking. You, after all, know better than anyone what you feel in your own mouth.

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Along with the process of examining your mouth with you, I will suggest appropriate x-rays. These may include films of individual teeth, the entire jaw system, and if necessary, specific films of your jaw joints. I may also suggest making diagnostic casts that can be mounted on an articulator, an instrument that simulates the movements of your lower jaw relative to your upper teeth.

 

A final step in gathering data is a complete set of clinical photographs of your teeth and face. All of this information allows me to have the opportunity to study your unique circumstances and condition to then formulate a treatment plan that meets your goals and objectives.

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At some point following this evaluation we will come together to discuss the findings and possibilities, and then outline how best to proceed. Certainly, if you have immediate concerns or an urgent need, I will address the issue prior to the process just described.

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It is important to emphasize that the essence of the experience is to understand your unique aspirations and expectations and learning how best to work with and for you. For those who are discriminating about their health care, this comprehensive, and relationship based approach is both reassuring and satisfying. I am constantly pursuing education to achieve excellence in all facets of dentistry, and I look forward to putting my experience to work for you.

Sean Mooring, DDS