To determine if dental exams are necessary, it is important to know what they are, and what they entail. Dental exams can be referred to as dental checkups, comprehensive oral exams or complete oral exams. While these terms sound quite similar, there is a difference between a dental checkup and a complete oral exam. Regular dental exams are a critical part of preventive health care. During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and check for cavities an

Periodontal disease refers to inflammatory processes in tissues surrounding the teeth, in response to bacterial accumulations, aka dental plaque, on the teeth. Anaerobic bacteria found in invasive microbial plaque can penetrate gingival tissues in the gums. When this happens, it can induce tissue destruction as well as inflammatory responses from cells such as lymphocytes, macrophages, leukocytes, and other cells with crazy names that are associated with the immune system. Th