Your 21 point exam is a "physical exam of your masticatory system". It is a baseline for future comparisons and is the basis for a lifetime master plan for oral health.

Dentistry today has so much to offer...restorative and reconstructive dentistry, porcelain veneers and crowns, bonding, white fillings, whitening, implants...what is right for you?? It has to begin with a 21 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 masticatory system. If there is an immediate concern, it may need to be addressed first, then followed by a comprehensive evaluation.

The purpose of this 21 POINT evaluation is quite simple. You and Dr. Tarantola learn together about the condition of all parts of your masticatory system. These parts include your teeth, the periodontal support of the teeth, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) that facilitate the movement of your lower jaw, and the muscles that move the jaw.

It is a step-by-step system-based evaluation, not just a symptom-based evaluation. Before you and Dr. Tarantola can determine what is possible for long-term stability with regard to comfort, function, health and esthetics, your current condition is assessed. This is without question the most important series of appointments we will have. Many of the disappointments individuals have with dentistry can be traced back to an incomplete evaluation and diagnosis.

Keep in mind that a comprehensive evaluation includes an assessment of temporomandibular joint function, muscle function and an assessment of how the upper and lower teeth function (or malfunction) in relation to one another. This assessment includes models of your mouth attached to an articulator (jaw simulator) for further evaluation. Dentists refer to the alignment and fitting together of your upper and lower teeth as your occlusion. During this evaluation, feel free to talk to us about any esthetic concerns you may have.

Carefully completing this evaluation and doing it in a way that you fully understand is the first step in formulating a lifetime plan that will help you achieve and sustain maximum oral comfort, health and esthetics with stability and longevity.