subject: Everything Begins With Dental Consultation [print this page] Every medical procedure begins with consultation. During consultation, doctors ask about a patients current medical condition. They check vital signs of a patient. Vital signs include blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate. Nurses and medical assistants check the weight and height of a patient. These help in determining the presence of any disease or illness.
Consultation is an essential phase in dentistry. Dental treatment starts with consultation. Dentists assess the condition of a patients oral health. They inspect the surface and structure of teeth. They use dental mirrors in examining tooth discoloration. They use handheld probes to measure fissures and dents on teeth. The most commonly-used handheld probes include sickles and periodontal probes. Sickles detect pits and calculus on teeth. Likewise, periodontal probes measure depth of periodontal pockets on gums.
Aside from tooth surface and structure, dentists ask for a patients dental record. In Scottsdale, family dentists refer patients to specialty dentists. Specialty dentists have expertise in examining and treating various parts of the tooth and mouth. Specialty dentists ask for the results of family dentists initial examinations. This explains the severity of tooth decay and damage, as well as seriousness of gum problems. Dental records help specialty dentists trace root causes of tooth impairment.
Moreover, dentists in Scottsdale dental center take intraoral photographs and x-ray images of a patients mouth. Intraoral photographs provide a close-up view of teeth, gums, and tongue. Intraoral cameras are connected to a monitor or television. Images and videos show a patients oral problems like plaque deposits, worn fillings, cracked teeth, cavities, and gum problems. On the other hand, dental X-rays identify missing teeth on the gums. They provide a black-and-white image of the bone structure inside the gums.
After examining dental health, dentists make models and study casts of teeth. Models and study casts are miniature figures of a patients teeth. These help measure tooth size for crowns and bridges. These assist in measuring the range and length of retainers and dental braces. For implant treatments, dentists in Scottsdale dental look through smile design books. Smile design books provide an assortment of tooth types. These help dentists and patients determine appropriate tooth implants for each patient.
Dentists in Scottsdale dental center have patient coordinators. Patient coordinators assist in scheduling appointments. They arrange follow-up dental care procedures for patients. Consultation is the focal point of dental treatments.
