Oral Exams

Yes. We always welcome new patients and their families for care. Feel free to give us a call or reach out to us online to schedule a first visit or for any additional information on our office. We look forward to hearing from you!

Routine dental checkups and professional cleanings help ensure your smile remains in tip-top condition and that any developing problems receive the prompt care they require. While it's a good idea to schedule a checkup and cleaning twice a year, longer or shorter intervals between routine visits depend on your specific needs.

We understand that life gets complicated and busy, and for various reasons, you haven't been able to get to the dentist for care. Don't worry; it's always a good time to get back in touch with the health of your smile.

At Rise & Shine Dental Group, we offer skilled and compassionate care to address a wide range of dental needs. Whether you need a simple checkup and cleaning, restorations, periodontal treatment, root canal therapy, or the replacement of missing teeth to get your smile back into shape, we provide precise, gentle, stress-free treatment to give you a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy.

Give us a call today; we're happy to address all your questions and concerns about getting your smile back in tip-top condition.

For pregnant women, practicing good oral care and seeing the dentist to maintain a healthy smile is considered an important component of prenatal care. Researchers have found that pregnancy not only increases the risk of oral health problems, but these problems may also lead to pregnancy complications. At the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group, we provide the skilled and compassionate care required to help expectant mothers keep their teeth and gums in tip-top condition. While certain procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, we provide the necessary care and take all the necessary precautions required.

Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, teeth that have been affected by a range of imperfections or that have sustained damage from trauma or dental decay can be restored to produce a naturally beautiful looking and functional smile.

As skilled and experienced providers of care, our office can effectively improve and enhance the appearance of teeth that are stained, discolored, misshapen, chipped, fractured, gapped, crowded, or broken down due to dental decay. At the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group, we offer a comprehensive selection of the leading-edge cosmetic solutions from teeth whitening procedures, dental bonding, tooth-colored fillings, and veneers, to prosthetic solutions and dental implants to rebuild complete and beautiful smiles.

Contact our office to learn more about the many ways we can help you create the smile you've always wanted.

If you're visiting Rise & Shine Dental Group for the first time, it is helpful that you contact your former dental office and have your records sent over to us. Make note of any problems you may have so that you can discuss them with your dentist.

To provide efficient service, we ask you to please bring your insurance card, an ID, plus any referral slips or diagnostic records given to you by another office. If you are taking medications, please note or make a list of what they are as you will need to provide that information.

Yes! We assure you that both you and your family will be in good hands at the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group.

We do our best to make sure every patient who steps into our office for care is put at ease. We provide precise and gentle care and our skilled, compassionate team strives to make every visit stress-free. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands and that we are doing all we can to ensure your comfort throughout every procedure. While we always take the time to explain every step in care, feel free to ask us any questions about local anesthesia and methods of dental sedation.

At the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group, we strive to provide the highest quality of care to address all your dental needs. Once we've had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any dental issues that are present, along with a quote for what the cost of treatment will be. The cost of care all depends upon the extent and complexity of issues affecting the health or appearance of your smile and the types of procedures that are required. Our goal is to make dental care more affordable so that you can begin treatment without any additional stress or delay.

Keep in mind that with routine dental checkups and periodic care, we can help prevent dental disease while treating emerging problems early in their onset to avoid larger issues and more expensive care down the road.

Routine dental checkups and preventive care procedures may be covered under your dental insurance plan requiring little to no out-of-pocket expense. We invite you to check our financial information page or give us a call to find out if our office participates with your plan, and if you have any other questions about dental insurance, dental savings plans, forms of payment, or financing options. We welcome your inquiries and do our best to help you begin care without additional stress or delay.

If you've lost a tooth due to injury, decay, gum disease, or any other reason, we recommend dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants come the closest to replicating the look, feel, and function of your natural teeth.

Absolutely! Both flossing and brushing regularly are equally important to maintain your oral health. While brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, flossing cleans in between them. Flossing is important to prevent plaque buildup, which can cause gums to recede and lead to periodontal disease.

Even if you have dentures, it is still necessary to see a dentist! Dental checkups help ensure that your dentures are comfortable, fitting properly, and that there are no other problems. Beyond assessing your dentures, our dentist will also perform a thorough examination of the jawbone, and surrounding soft tissues both inside the mouth, the face, and neck, to confirm that you remain in good oral health.

Emergency dental care is a service we hope you'll never need- but if you do, the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group is here for you!

Whether you're suffering from a chipped tooth, toothache, or any problem affecting your oral health, you can be sure to get the prompt attention and compassionate care you require at our office. Patient care and comfort are our top priorities, and we offer a comprehensive range of the most advanced services to address a broad spectrum of dental needs.

While the pain of a toothache is one of the more common reasons that patients come to our office for emergency dental care, we also promptly treat emergencies that are not necessarily painful like crowns that have been dislodged and broken dentures that leave embarrassing gaps in one's smile.

You can rest assured that your oral health is in the best of hands at our office. We'll quickly determine exactly what's wrong, explain your treatment options, and then provide the precise and gentle care you require to alleviate your discomfort and get you back on the path to oral health and wellness.

Your health and comfort are our top priorities. If your dental emergency is painful, if it affects the appearance of your smile, or if you suspect that an infection is present, our office will make every effort to see you as soon as possible for care.

At the office of Rise & Shine Dental Group, we welcome patients of all ages for care and offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help every member of your family maintain a beautiful and healthy smile. Whether you or a loved one needs a routine checkup and cleaning, fillings, same-day crowns, a cosmetic smile makeover, the replacement of missing teeth or require the services of a skilled and compassionate emergency dentist, you can rely on our office for the highest quality care.

For more information on our office and the many services we provide, or to schedule an appointment for care, give us a call today.

At Rise & Shine Dental Group, a comprehensive oral exam goes beyond a quick visual check of teeth and gums. It is a methodical assessment of teeth, periodontal tissues, soft tissues, bite function, and the temporomandibular joint. The goal is to identify current problems, detect early signs of disease, and monitor changes over time.

Regular, thorough exams let clinicians intervene early, often avoiding more extensive treatment later. They also create a personalized record that informs preventive advice, hygiene care, and any restorative planning. Documenting baseline conditions ensures clinicians can compare future findings and tailor care to each patient's needs.

Most adults benefit from routine oral exams every six months, though frequency can vary based on individual risk factors. Patients with periodontal disease, compromised immune systems, history of frequent decay, or complex medical conditions may need exams more often. Children's schedules depend on growth and development and younger patients may require closer monitoring during mixed dentition.

Your dental team will recommend an interval tailored to your oral health status, habits, and medical history. These recommendations are not one-size-fits-all and may change as conditions improve or new concerns arise. Open communication about symptoms or changes between visits can also prompt an earlier evaluation when needed.

An oral exam typically begins with a review of your medical and dental history and any current concerns you have. The clinician will look for signs of decay, gum inflammation, soft-tissue abnormalities, and functional issues such as bite alignment. They will also assess for wear patterns from clenching or grinding and check the health and mobility of teeth.

When appropriate, the exam includes diagnostic charting and may be paired with imaging to document findings. The clinician will explain observations, answer questions, and recommend next steps, which might include preventive measures, a hygiene visit, or targeted treatment. This collaborative discussion helps prioritize care and keeps treatment goals clear and achievable.

Dental x-rays are used selectively to reveal issues that cannot be seen during a visual exam, such as decay between teeth, root problems, and bone levels. Common types include bitewings for interproximal decay and periapical films for individual tooth assessment. Full-mouth series or panoramic images can provide a comprehensive baseline when clinically indicated.

Modern digital radiography minimizes radiation exposure and provides images immediately for review and documentation. Advanced imaging like cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be recommended when three-dimensional detail is needed for surgical or implant planning. Your dentist will discuss the rationale for any imaging and tailor recommendations to your specific diagnostic needs.

Oral exams include a soft-tissue evaluation of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, cheeks, and throat to look for lesions, color changes, or persistent sores. Clinicians palpate tissues for lumps or irregularities and document any findings for follow-up. Because early detection of suspicious lesions greatly improves outcomes, any concerning sign prompts education, monitoring, or referral for further testing.

The mouth also reflects systemic conditions such as nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, and side effects of medications, which can manifest as dry mouth, unusual bleeding, or mucosal changes. By reviewing medical history and current symptoms, the dental team can flag issues that merit medical evaluation and coordinate care when appropriate. This integrative approach supports both oral health and overall well-being.

A professional cleaning removes biofilm and hardened deposits that are difficult to eliminate with home care alone, reducing bacterial load and the risk of gum disease. During the hygiene visit, the clinician evaluates your home care technique and tailors recommendations to address specific challenges. Cleanings also offer a chance to apply preventive treatments and reinforce habits that protect tooth structure and gum attachment.

When paired with regular exams, cleanings help maintain stability after restorative work and make it easier to detect new issues early. The hygienist documents changes in gum health and pocket depths, providing data that informs treatment intervals and priorities. This team-based approach ensures prevention remains central to long-term oral wellness.

Provide a complete list of current medications, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements, because many drugs affect saliva flow, bleeding risk, or healing. Share medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and any history of cancer or radiation therapy. Also mention allergies, recent surgeries, and any devices such as joint replacements that may influence dental treatment.

On the dental side, tell your clinician about past toothaches, surgeries, orthodontic treatment, and history of gum disease or sensitivity. Detailing habits like smoking, vaping, alcohol use, and sleep-disordered breathing helps the team assess risk and recommend supportive care. Accurate history enables safer, more effective exams and personalized treatment planning.

Clinicians assess how the upper and lower teeth come together, looking for uneven wear, mobility, or patterns that suggest altered bite forces. The temporomandibular joint is examined for range of motion, sounds, pain, and muscle tenderness that may indicate dysfunction. Wear facets, chipped edges, and muscle hypertrophy are clues that clenching and grinding are affecting oral health.

When signs of bruxism or TMJ disorder are present, the team discusses conservative management options such as occlusal guards, behavior modification, or targeted referrals. They will also consider whether restorative adjustments or orthodontic input could improve function and reduce ongoing damage. Regular monitoring during follow-up exams helps determine whether interventions are effective or need modification.

Oral exams establish the clinical baseline needed for predictable restorative and implant planning by documenting tooth condition, gum health, and bone levels. Imaging taken during the exam informs decisions about implant positioning, the need for bone grafting, and the sequence of care. A thorough soft-tissue assessment also influences the aesthetic and functional goals of restorative treatment.

When complex care is anticipated, the practice coordinates diagnostic appointments, imaging, and interdisciplinary input to create a phased, evidence-based plan. Clear documentation from routine exams streamlines treatment planning and helps manage expectations for outcomes and timelines. This methodical approach supports safe, long-lasting restorations tailored to each patient's priorities.

You should schedule an exam promptly if you experience persistent pain, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, a new lump or sore, or sudden changes in bite or tooth stability. These signs can indicate infection, trauma, rapidly progressing decay, or soft-tissue pathology that benefits from early evaluation. Delaying assessment can allow problems to worsen and complicate treatment options.

Also seek evaluation for persistent dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, ongoing numbness, or any non-healing oral sore that lasts more than two weeks. If you notice unusual bleeding, sudden loosening of teeth, or signs that interfere with eating or speaking, contact your dental team for advice. Timely exams outside scheduled intervals support quicker diagnosis and more conservative management when possible.