Procedures
Comprehensive exam
Also called full exam, initial exam
A thorough first evaluation of a patient's teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints and soft tissues, with a full record review.
A comprehensive exam is the detailed evaluation a dentist does for a new patient or a patient who has been away a long time. It covers the teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints, and the soft tissues of the mouth, and it is built on a fresh health history and often a set of X-rays. The findings become the base for a treatment plan. It takes longer than a periodic exam, so book extra time.
Example at the front desk
The new patient needs a comprehensive exam, so I blocked 90 minutes and asked her to send her records.