Dental Exams and Checkups Services
What a Dental Exam and Checkup Covers
People picture a checkup as someone poking your teeth with a metal hook. That’s part of it, sure. But a real dental exam and checkup covers a lot more ground than that.
We start with digital X-rays. These show us what’s happening below the gum line, cavities between teeth, bone loss you can’t feel yet. For a lot of patients we’ll also use cone beam CT scans, which give a full picture of your jaw and roots in one pass. You’ll see the images on the screen right next to you. We don’t just tell you something’s wrong. We show you the spot on the scan.
Next comes the oral cancer screening. It checks your tongue, cheeks, throat, and neck for anything unusual. Most patients never think about this part until we explain why it matters. Catching something early here can change everything.
Then we check your gums. We measure pocket depth around each tooth and look for early signs of gum disease. If we spot something, we’ll talk through it plainly, just the facts and the scan on screen.
We’ll also look at old fillings, crowns, and any dental work you’ve already had done. Wear and tear happens, edges chip, cement wears thin. We’ll flag anything that needs attention down the road, not just what’s urgent today.
Last, we talk. You’ll get time to ask questions and we’ll walk through what we found, what it means, and what your options are. New patients get this whole process, plus the X-rays, for a flat $79. And every visit, new or returning, includes a free wellness scan as part of the checkup.
How Often You Need a Checkup, and When to Come Sooner
Twice a year. That’s the standard most dentists recommend for a dental exam and checkup, and it’s the schedule we tell most patients to follow. Six months is enough time for plaque to build into something a toothbrush can’t handle, but not so long that small problems turn into big ones.
Some people need to come in more often. If you’ve had gum disease, or you’re prone to cavities, we might ask you back every three or four months. Kids getting sealants or watching new teeth come in sometimes need extra visits too. And if you’re pregnant, dealing with dry mouth from medication, or managing diabetes, your risk for gum problems goes up. Those cases get closer watching.
Six months isn’t a magic number carved in stone. It’s a guideline based on how fast tartar builds and how quickly small issues turn into bigger ones.
Here’s when you shouldn’t wait for your next scheduled visit:
- A tooth that’s sensitive to hot or cold and doesn’t settle down
- Bleeding gums that show up every time you brush
- A crack, chip, or filling that feels off
- Jaw pain or a clicking sound when you chew
- Any sore in your mouth that hasn’t healed after a couple weeks
We see that last one more than people expect, a spot they figured would heal on its own. Sometimes it’s nothing. Sometimes it’s worth a look, and that’s exactly what oral cancer screenings are for during your visit.
New patients often ask if they need a special first appointment. They don’t, not really. It’s the same exam with X-rays and a look at your whole mouth, just the first time we’re getting to know your smile. If it’s been a while since your last visit, don’t stress about it. We’ve seen longer gaps, and we’re not here to make you feel bad about it.
When You Can Wait for Your Next Scheduled Visit
Not every little worry needs a same day call. Here’s the honest truth. If nothing hurts and nothing’s changed, you can probably wait.
Say your last checkup was clean, no cavities, no gum trouble, and you’re just due for your regular cleaning in a few months. That’s not urgent. Mild sensitivity to cold that fades in a few seconds? Usually normal, especially if you already know you grind your teeth or use a night guard. A tiny chip on an old filling that doesn’t catch your tongue or hurt when you bite down can wait too. We’ll look at it at your next visit and decide together if it needs fixing.
Here’s a simple way to think about it. If the issue is painless, stable, and hasn’t gotten worse over a week or two, it’s probably fine to hold off.
There’s a flip side, and this is where a lot of people get it wrong. If you’re only asking because you’re curious about whitening or you want straighter teeth, that’s not an emergency either, but it’s not “nothing.” It’s a good reason to book a regular visit sooner rather than later. Cosmetic questions are best answered in person, where we can look and show you what’s going on with imaging instead of guessing over the phone.
So how do you know the difference between “wait” and “come in now”? Pain that’s new, swelling, or anything that’s getting worse day by day means don’t wait. Everything else, save it for your regular checkup. We’d rather you feel confident about that decision than worried about bothering us with a small question.
Preparing for a New Patient or Missionary Clearance Exam
Rexburg is a college town, and BYU-Idaho sends a lot of students out on missions every year. If that’s you, you probably need a dental exam signed off before you leave. Good news, that’s easy to plan for.
Our new patient exam runs $79 and includes X-rays. That’s not a teaser rate. It’s the real visit. You’ll get a full look at your teeth and gums, plus digital X-rays we show you on-screen so you can see exactly what we see. No guessing. We also run a free wellness scan as part of your visit, so there’s zero pressure to add extra cost just to get checked out properly.
For a missionary dental exam, timing matters more than people think. Missions offices usually want paperwork done well before your departure date, not the week before.
- Call and tell us it’s for missionary clearance, so we book the right kind of visit.
- Bring any mission paperwork or forms that need a dentist’s signature.
- Plan for X-rays and a cone beam scan if we spot anything that needs a closer look.
- Ask questions. We’ll walk through the images with you before you leave.
Bring your insurance card if you have one, and a list of any medications you’re on. If it’s been a couple years since your last cleaning, mention that too. Some students need a deep cleaning done first.
We offer evening hours Tuesday and Thursday until 7 PM, plus Saturday appointments. That matters in a town full of students and working parents juggling class schedules or shift work. You shouldn’t have to skip class or call in sick just to get cleared for a mission or start care with a new dentist.
What Happens During Your Visit at Family First Dental
Walking in for the first time? Here’s exactly what you can expect, no surprises, no jargon.
You’ll start with a quick chat about your health history and any concerns you’ve got. Sore tooth, bleeding gums, an old filling that feels off – tell us. Then we take digital X-rays, and this is where it gets different. Our AI-assisted imaging pulls up right on the screen next to you, so you see what we see. No squinting at a tiny film. No taking our word for it.
- Check-in and a short conversation about your teeth and any pain or concerns.
- Digital X-rays, shown to you on-screen as we go.
- A cone beam (CBCT) scan if we need a deeper 3D look at roots, bone, or a possible implant site.
- A hands-on exam checking each tooth, your gums, your bite, and your jaw.
- An oral cancer screening.
- A plain-language walkthrough of what we found, with the images right there for you to see.
We don’t rush this part. If something needs attention, we’ll explain why, point to it on the screen, and lay out your options. No pressure to decide anything on the spot.
New patients get an exam with X-rays included, and we also offer free wellness scans for anyone who wants a quick check without committing to a full visit yet. Our dentist has spent 20 years doing this work, and that experience shows up most in the exam chair, catching small things early before they turn into bigger, more painful problems. That’s the whole point of dental exams and checkups done right: catch it small, explain it clearly, fix it before it hurts.
Ready to get on the schedule? Call us at (208) 400-9946 and we’ll find a time that works, evenings and Saturdays included.
Ready To Schedule Your Appointment?
Our friendly team at Family First Dental is here to help! Contact our office today and let us take care of your dental health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to my first dental exam and checkup?
Bring your ID, insurance card if you have one, and any paperwork that needs a signature, like missionary clearance forms. You don’t need to prepare anything special beyond that. We’ll take digital X-rays and sometimes a cone beam scan during your visit. You’ll see the images on the screen right next to you as we go. If you’ve had work done elsewhere, mentioning it helps us check those fillings or crowns for wear.
What happens after my checkup if you find a cavity or other problem?
We’ll show you the spot on your X-ray or scan and walk through your options together. Nothing gets decided without you seeing it first. Some issues need quick attention, like a deep cavity or gum pockets that are getting worse. Others, like a small chip, can wait until your next scheduled visit. You’ll leave knowing exactly what we found and what happens next, not just a vague warning.
Do I need a special exam for missionary clearance before leaving on a mission?
No, it’s the same full exam and X-rays we do for any new patient, just with paperwork attached. Rexburg sends a lot of BYU-Idaho students out on missions each year, so we’re used to this. Call ahead and tell us it’s for missionary clearance so we book enough time. Missions offices want this done well before your departure date, so plan a few weeks out, not the week before you leave.
How often should I really come in for a checkup?
Is it okay to skip a checkup if nothing hurts?
It’s usually fine to wait if nothing hurts and nothing has changed since your last clean visit. Mild cold sensitivity that fades quickly or a small chip that doesn’t catch your tongue can wait until your next appointment. But new pain, swelling, or a sore that hasn’t healed in a couple weeks means don’t wait. Those symptoms are exactly what oral cancer screenings and regular checkups are built to catch early.