byAlma Abell

Visiting Wichita Dentists regularly can improve people’s dental health. Since dental health is a part of a person’s overall health, routine visits and needed check-ups will assist people in having enhanced overall health as well. If you have not seen a dentist in a while, it’s advisable to make an appointment. To prepare yourself for the visit, learn what to expect. This will make you more receptive to treatments. While most dentists have their own protocols for conducting initial dental visits, most include consultations, clinical examinations, intraoral assessments, and extraoral evaluations.

A dentist will usually start an initial visit with a consultation. During this conversation, the dentist will ask the patient about her medical history, dental history, recent diagnoses, medications she is taking, and fears. Other points of interest may be discussed that relate to dentistry. A patient should tell the dentist about any anxiety she has regarding treatment. This fear can arise from legitimate issues, but is not a reason to avoid dental care. A dentist can alter the way he conducts his treatments. There are also many medications aimed at reducing anxiety and pain. The patient should tell the dentist all prescription and over-the-counter medicines she is taking and the reasons for taking these medicines.

After a consultation, Professional Dentists Wichita will look at the areas surrounding the patient’s mouth. This includes the head, neck, salivary glands, temporomandibular (jaw) joint, and lymph nodes. He will palpate a patient’s skin and feel for abnormalities. Some signs indicative of dental problems include redness, swelling, lumps, abrasions, and skin irritation. The dentist will ask the patient to open and close her mouth all the way along with moving her lower jaw from side to side when her mouth is open. This action will test the jaw joint.

A dentist will inspect the inside of a patient’s mouth to check for irregularities such as cuts, swellings, redness, and abnormal odors. Some dental problems can result in the emission of fluid such as blood and pus. These two exudates are often present when a tooth is infected.

In addition to an intraoral and extraoral inspection of a patient’s mouth, a dentist will perform a clinical examination to assess for dental problems and dental disease. An oral cancer screening may be done as well, especially for patients who smoke. For more information on dental services, please visit