Exams And Cleaning

The Oral Exam

Dr. Mobley performs a thorough oral exam of each patient, checking to make sure that there are no obvious signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Part of that oral exam may include an x-ray. Our office utilizes digital x-rays, which expose our patients to much less radiation than a traditional film x-ray. In addition, digital x-rays allow Dr. Mobley to gain a much better and more thorough view of the patient’s teeth and gums.

Gum Health – Scaling and Root Planing

One thing Dr. Mobley looks for during her oral exams is the health of the gum tissue. Unfortunately, gum disease is an all-too-common problem in the US, but it’s also one that can usually be resolved if it’s caught in the early stages. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Mobley may recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing.This procedure involves removing plaque and tartar from under the gum line, then smoothing out the rough areas of the tooth root surfaces to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate in the future. Scaling and root planing – also referred to as “deep cleaning” – is typically done under a local anesthetic so that the patient experiences very little, if any, discomfort.