For many people, a dental checkup feels like a mystery. You sit in the chair, open your mouth, and a bunch of things happen that you don’t totally understand. Someone pokes your gums. Someone else takes pictures. Then the dentist comes in, looks around for about thirty seconds, and says everything looks fine. You leave feeling relieved, but you’re also not really sure what just happened, or whether anyone actually did an oral cancer screening while they were in there.
Here at Dazzling Dentistry, we think you deserve to know. So let’s pull back the curtain and walk through what a comprehensive exam actually looks like.
Step One: The Conversation
Before anyone picks up a dental tool, we sit down and talk. Dr. Margaret Radziszewski and Dr. Weronika Dabros want to know what’s been bothering you. Maybe a tooth has felt sensitive when you drink something cold. Maybe you’ve noticed your gums bleed when you floss. Maybe you just haven’t been to the dentist in a while, and you’re feeling nervous.
Whatever it is, we listen without judgment or rushing you.
Step Two: The Visual Exam
This is the part you probably recognize. Dr. Margaret looks at each tooth, checking for visible cavities, cracks, or worn spots. She’ll also look at your gums, your tongue, and the inside of your cheeks.
But here’s what you might not see. She’s also looking at how your teeth fit together when you bite down. She’s checking for signs of grinding or clenching. She’s noting any old fillings that might be starting to fail.
Step Three: The Periodontal Probing
This is the part where we gently measure the spaces between your gums and your teeth. Those little numbers you hear us call out? They tell us whether your gums are healthy or showing signs of infection.
Healthy pockets are usually one to three millimeters deep. Anything deeper than that? That’s a red flag for gum disease. And catching it early means we can treat it before it causes real damage. To learn about our gum disease treatments, visit: Periodontal Therapy.
Step Four: X-Rays (When You Need Them)
We don’t take X-rays every single visit. But when we do, they show us what’s happening below the surface. Decay between your teeth. Infections at the root. Bone loss that you can’t see with the naked eye.
Think of X-rays like the dental version of an iceberg. You see the tip. We need to see what’s underneath.
The Part That Could Save Your Life: Oral Cancer Screening
During every comprehensive exam, we also screen for oral cancer. And we don’t take that lightly.
Dr. Margaret feels along your jaw, your neck, and the floor of your mouth. She looks for lumps, bumps, or any spots that don’t look right. Red patches. White patches. Sores that haven’t healed.
Most of the time, everything’s fine. But when it’s not? Catching oral cancer early makes a massive difference. The five-year survival rate for early detection is around 84 percent. Late detection drops to around 38 percent. Those numbers matter.
What You Walk Away With
By the end of your exam, you’ll know exactly where your smile stands. No surprises or hidden problems waiting to get worse. If you need treatment, we’ll talk through your options. If everything looks great, we’ll get you scheduled for your next cleaning and send you on your way. Either way, you’re not left wondering.
Been a while since your last real exam? Call our Chicago office at (872) 276-8546 or our Arlington Heights office at (224) 328-2452. You can also request an appointment online.
We’ll take a look, answer every question you’ve got, and make sure you leave feeling informed.