Your First Dental Check Up with Dr. Strietzel

Dr. Strietzel is committed to delivering the perfect first dental visit. Excellent dental care only happens when you feel comfortable.

Your safety is his utmost priority, especially during this pandemic, so rest assured that precautionary measures are being implemented.

A one-on-one comprehensive exam will be performed to get to know you better, as well as your medical history, dental history, and everything else that can be relevant to your treatment.

https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/your-first-dental-check-up-with-dr-strietzel/

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Dr Strietzel teeth Dental x ray patient exam gum comprehensive exam

https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/your-first-dental-check-up-with-dr-strietzel/

About ADMS

Advanced Digital Media

Dr Strietzel teeth Dental x ray patient exam gum comprehensive exam

Your First Dental Check Up
with Dr. Strietzel
B L O G  |  S U N R I S E  D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Most of us regularly make a dentist
appointment to have our teeth cleaned and
checked, as it is recommended that we do
this once every six months. Once a year,
the exam should include a set of bitewing
x-rays, which help to identify decay
between the teeth.
Patients who are under treatment for gum
issues, such as gingivitis and periodontal
disease, are advised to have cleanings
more often, usually three to four times a
year. Here is what to expect when you
come to our office for the first time.
On your first dental visit to Dr. Strietzel’s,
you will first be screened for Covid-19, and
your temperature will be taken, which is
routine for all patients. If you downloaded
and filled out the new patient forms from
our website in advance, you are all set to go
to the chair when a staff member comes to
seat you. Your first dental visit should be a
comprehensive exam with bitewing and
panoramic x-rays.
X-rays
First, the dental assistant will take x-rays.
If you think you might have current x-rays
with your previous dentist, we will ask you
to contact them to send the x-rays to us.
We do try to avoid taking unnecessary x-
rays, so as not to incur unnecessary
expense or exposure. The x-rays are a very
important diagnostic tool for Dr. Strietzel.
Bitewing x-rays help Dr. Strietzel to
identify issues that can’t be seen during a
regular oral exam. These x-rays also help
Dr. Strietzel find symptoms of clenching
and grinding, such as widened periodontal
ligaments or angled bone loss. They help
us see treatments that your teeth have
already had and show us the presence of
decay, fractures, and infection.
The Panoramic x-ray is a radiograph that
goes around the head. It gives us a whole
picture of the jawline, and even some of the
sinuses. This exam is done especially for
identifying wisdom teeth positioning, cysts,
tumors, and cancer. Panoramic x-rays are
also useful in determining any degree of
horizontal bone loss that may be present.
Patient Photos
After the x-rays are completed, the dental
assistant will use a special camera and
mirrors to take photos of the teeth. This is
a very helpful tool for patients, as when
the photos are processed, the back teeth in
all four quadrants are identified with their
tooth numbers, so patients can see exactly
what teeth Dr. Strietzel is referring to,
especially when discussing a treatment
plan.
Usually the images are organized on one
page and printed out to give to a patient.
While the dental assistant is taking the
photos, Dr. Strietzel will evaluate all the x-
rays to go over with you during the
comprehensive exam.
Sleep Wellness Screening
Your dental check up will also include sleep
wellness screening. During this evaluation,
your tongue and tonsils are examined to
determine risk for sleep disorders. The
assistant measures your neck size and asks
about your sleep. Then Dr. Strietzel will
determine by the visual evidence and the
other indicators if you should be screened
further for sleep-related issues.
The Comprehensive Exam
Part of Dr. Strietzel’s comprehensive dental
check up for first time patients are nutrition
and general health practices.
Dr. 
Strietzel 
does 
a 
very 
detailed
comprehensive exam. With our office being a
holistic dental office, Dr. Strietzel includes
nutrition guidelines in his exams and
addresses whole body health to help you
make wise choices.
He will go over your medical history and
risk factors for medications or conditions
that could cause problems with your teeth
and/or gums. This is also when he will
review the x-ray findings with you.
Clinical Tooth Evaluation
The next thing is the clinical tooth
examination. Using a tool called an
explorer, Dr. Strietzel probes the surfaces
of the teeth looking for evidence of decay,
which is felt when the explorer indicates
a “softness” or “stickiness” on a tooth.
He will also look for mobility in the teeth,
which is when the teeth move when probed.
A common reason for adult teeth to wiggle
is gum disease. The gums pull away from
the teeth, making them less secure in the
mouth.
During a dental check up, Dr. Strietzel will
also look for teeth with exposed roots and
crowns that do not have a tight fit to the
gum line, allowing an open margin to show
up between the crown and the tooth.
Crowns with open margins are an
invitation for bacteria to get underneath the
crown and create decay. This is likely to
advance more quickly, since brushing
under a crown is impossible. It is also
hardest to detect because the crown may
hide indications of decay, especially on the
x-rays.
During the clinical tooth evaluation Dr.
Strietzel will also check the bite, looking to
see if any teeth are hitting too hard, have
shifted, or are biting together in a way that
could create problems down the line. He
will also check for excessive wear on the
teeth, which could indicate clenching and
grinding or a sleep disorder such as sleep
apnea. Missing teeth will be noted on your
chart as well.
Oral Cancer Screening
An oral cancer screening is performed.
During this portion of the appointment,
examines all areas of the mouth. Dr.
Strietzel will be looking for discolorations
or patches of color, and using gloved hands,
he will gently feel the tissue in the mouth to
identify any suspicious lumps or bumps. He
will also examine the neck, looking for any
growths or abnormalities in the salivary
glands or the lymph nodes.
Keep in mind for return visits that each
time a regular dental check up is done with
teeth cleaning, Dr. Strietzel and the
hygienist also look for visual signs of cancer.
It is recommended that patients who
smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol
should have this exam every six months. If
something suspicious is found, Dr. Strietzel
may refer a patient for further tests.
Soft tissue Evaluation
Soft tissues and the gums are evaluated
during your first dental visit. Dr. Strietzel
will measure the pockets around each tooth
and any recession will be charted.
Measuring the perio pockets is an excellent
tool for identifying gums that are separating
from teeth. The more the gums separate
from a tooth, the deeper the pockets and the
more at risk the patient is of the perils of
gum disease.
This evaluation also helps to determine the
type of dental cleaning a patient may need.
If there is significant issue with gum health,
a patient may need a deeper cleaning, which
involves significant scaling under the gum
line, such as with a debridement or scale
and root planning.
Formulating a Treatment Plan
Next, Dr. Strietzel will talk with you about a
treatment plan based on his findings during
the clinical and soft tissue exams and x-
rays. If there are multiple options for any
recommended treatment, he will review
each of them to help you make informed
decisions about your dental care.
The treatment plan is formulated based on
what should take priority, such as cavities
that need to be filled before they cause
issues that are more expensive to fix. It is
always advisable not to let cavities go too
long without being addressed. Waiting
could result in the cavity reaching the nerve
and causing significant pain, the expense of
a root canal, or an extraction, especially if
the tooth abscesses.
At the end of your first dental visit, the
assistant will provide you with a patient
folder which can be very helpful to you in
planning your appointments. It will have
the photos that were taken at the beginning
of the appointment, which you can cross-
reference with the treatment plan, so you
know what teeth are going to be treated. The
assistant may also book your next
appointment for you.
For married adults, it can be helpful for your
spouse to be there for the appointment, so
you can both be present for the discussion
about treatment, especially if this is your
first dental visit and you have several dental
problems or multiple treatment options. An
even better option is for both of you to have
a comprehensive exam at the same time,
and then share in the presentation and
discussion. That will help you both to have
any questions or concerns answered.
Make an appointment with Dr. Strietzel, a
holistic dentist in Durango, CO now!
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
PHONE NUMBER
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
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