A Great Smile Starts With an Accurate Baseline
A great smile starts with an accurate baseline. When you visit Dr. Brian Mathison at Brian C. Mathison DDS, Family Dentistry in Fargo, ND, you’ll receive a thorough assessment of your entire masticatory system: the teeth, gums, jaw joints, and muscles that work together every time you chew, speak, and smile.
Patients from West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth trust our office for dependable, relationship-focused care, and Dr. Mathison has been serving this community since 2002. Ready to get a clear picture of your oral health? Call us at (701) 356-3999 to schedule your comprehensive exam.
What Is a Comprehensive Dental Exam?
A comprehensive dental exam is the foundation of everything we do. It is a full evaluation of your mouth, bite, and supporting structures, not a glance for cavities. This deep dive allows us to catch signs of wear or instability early, often before you feel any symptoms at all.
Because it creates a record of where your oral health stands today, it also becomes the baseline we compare against at every future visit. Small changes are far easier to spot, and far easier to treat, when we know exactly what “normal” looks like for you.
What We Evaluate During Your Exam
Your Teeth
Digital radiographs (X-rays) can help Dr. Mathison see areas below the surface that aren’t visible during a visual exam.
Your Gums and Supporting Bone
Healthy gums are the foundation for healthy teeth. We assess your gum tissue and the bone that supports your teeth, because early gum and bone changes can progress quietly. Catching them early gives you more options. If you need ongoing gum care, we offer periodontal maintenance.
Your Bite and Jaw Joints
Your bite is how your upper and lower teeth meet, and when it is out of balance, it can contribute to uneven wear, sensitivity, and jaw discomfort. Dr. Mathison evaluates your bite alignment and jaw joint function. Clenching and grinding can cause headaches and jaw muscle pain, and we offer custom TMJ splint therapy (night guards) when appropriate.
Your Existing Dental Work
We examine your current restorations, including resin (tooth-colored) fillings and porcelain crowns and bridges. Even well-made dental work can wear, loosen, or leak over time. Reviewing it at every comprehensive exam helps us address concerns before they become larger problems.
Your Overall Oral Health
We also review your oral hygiene routine and answer your questions. Personalized coaching on your home care routine helps you prevent issues instead of simply reacting to them.
Why a Thorough Dental Exam Matters
- Early detection saves time and money. Catching a small problem early typically means simpler treatment than waiting until it hurts.
- You get a true baseline. We measure every future exam against today’s findings, so subtle changes don’t slip by.
- It looks at function, not just appearance. Wear, instability, and bite problems affect how your teeth work, not only how they look.
- You stay in control. Patients consistently tell us Dr. Mathison is upfront about what needs to be done now and what can wait, and he respects your decision either way.
What to Expect at Your Dental Visit
- A warm welcome. No judgment, no matter how long it’s been since your last visit.
- A conversation. Dr. Mathison listens to your concerns, history, and goals.
- Imaging and evaluation. We take digital radiographs and carefully examine your teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints, and existing restorations.
- A clear explanation. We walk you through what we found in plain language and discuss your options.
- A plan that fits you. If treatment is needed, we help you prioritize it. If everything looks great, we help you keep it that way.
What Patients Say About Dental Exams in Fargo
Choosing a dentist for regular dental exams means finding a team you can trust for thorough, comfortable care. Patients at Brian C. Mathison, DDS have shared positive experiences with the practice’s attentive approach and commitment to ongoing oral health.
“Brian and his team have performed dental work on me for over a decade… [He] prevented numerous potential issues with his advice and proactive identification of risks.”— Dylan S.
“I have been going to Dr. Brian Mathison for over 10 years now. The staff is great… [the hygienists] are all very professional and thorough.”— Jessica J.