Comprehensive Evaluation
The 25 Point Comprehensive Evaluation and What it Means to You
Your 25 point exam is a comprehensive look at your oral health and is industry leading in its thoroughness. It provides a baseline for future comparisons and is essential for the master plan REGARDLESS of the type of dentistry you choose to be done!
Dentistry today has much to offer such as restorative and reconstructive dentistry, porcelain veneers and crowns, bonding, white fillings, whitening, implants and much more. How do you determine what is right for you? It must begin with the 25 point exam and diagnosis.
Unless there is some immediate concern or urgency, the first series of visits will involve a comprehensive evaluation of the entire oral health system. If there is an immediate concern, it may need to be addressed first, then followed by the 25 point comprehensive evaluation.
The purpose of the 25 point evaluation is quite simple. In a step-by-step system-based evaluation you and Dr. Otten together will learn about the condition of your health. These parts include your teeth, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) that facilitate the movement of your lower jaw, and the muscles that move the jaw.
This is not just a symptom or problem-based evaluation. It looks at all the factors that can work in your favor or not in determining your future health. Before you and Dr. Otten can determine what is best the evaluation must be done.
This is without question the most important series of appointments we will have. In our experience, most of the disappointments individuals have with dentistry can be traced back to incomplete evaluation, diagnosis and planning.
The Essential Components of the 25 Point Comprehensive Evaluation
- A personalized time set aside exclusively for you to review your medical and dental history
- Clarifying your concerns, current problems, your desires for future health and expectation of us in caring your your problems
- An introduction to Wellness Oriented Dentistry and how it can mean a lifetime free of dental problems
- A thorough Oral cancer examination
- A detailed tooth examination on live video camera to check for decay, cracks, fracture, wear and failed dentistry
- Periodontal (or gum and bone tissue) Examination: Measuring gum crevices at six points on every tooth to check for hidden gum disease
- Evaluate the condition of the existing gum tissue for proper quantity and strength
- Measuring all teeth for any looseness, another sign of problems
- Assessing the existing fillings or crowns for potentially causing gum irritation
- Providing an objective evaluation of your effectiveness in plaque removal and disease control
- Evaluating your individual susceptibility to gum disease
- Providing detailed instruction to help you immediately improve your gum health
- Temporomandibular Joint Orthopedic and Bite Analysis: Palpation (pressing with finger tips) of the jaw joints to check for inflammation
- Range of motion tests to check the health of jaw movements.
- Ultrasound examination of the joints to check for clicks, grating, or other noises which indicate problems
- Orthopedic pressure (load) testing to check the health of the cartilage disk
- Palpation (pressing) of muscle groups of the head and neck, both within and outside the mouth for any signs of discomfort or tension (often a cause of persistent headache)
- Examining all teeth to evaluate if they touch equally
- Examining all teeth to evaluate how the jaw moves in all directions and if the teeth properly guide
- Radiographs (X-rays) : A full radiographic series (if indicated), 20 views, to show decay, infection, bone condition
- A Panoramic radiograph showing the entire upper and lower jaw and jaw joints, sinuses and many other important structures
- Diagnostic Models of Your Mouth: Two sets of models, one serving as a baseline, the other for 3 dimensional planning and prototype design
- Precision measurements to customize models for jaw simulator
- Precision measurements to show how teeth bite together
- Photographs: Full series of approximately 20 views taken with our high quality 35mm digital camera
What Happens Next?
After your comprehensive examination, Dr. Otten will:
- Evaluate and study all the above information
- Consult with any specialists, if indicated
- Make a specific diagnosis for your current condition
- Design a blueprint for your care and a prototype with the diagnostic models of your mouth
- Develop an individualized long-term treatment program and sequence
At your consultation appointment, you and Dr. Otten will:
- Review all findings
- Discuss your treatment recommendations and sequence
- Give you a customized written report
- Discuss all fees
- Answer all questions to your satisfaction and understanding