The Visual Exam

During a comprehensive exam, the dentist will use an intraoral camera with sophisticated magnification and lighting to see all surface areas inside your mouth. Your dentist looks not only for cracked and decayed teeth, but also for abnormal developments, growths, and sores on the roof and floor of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums, and the mucous membranes that line your cheeks and gums. Then your dentist will check the lymph nodes of your head, jaw, and neck for pain, tenderness, and flexibility.