Dental and Periodontal Charting

 What is dental charting?

Dental charting is a process in which your dental healthcare professional lists and describes the health of your teeth and gums. Periodontal charting, which is a part of your dental chart, refers to the six measurements (in millimeters) that are taken around each tooth.

The charting is usually done during dental checkups. It’s a graphic method of organizing information about your dental health.

After your dental appointment, it’s best to incorporate the advice you’re given about maintaining healthy teeth and gums. And try to make sure you go back for regular checkups and charting.

Your dental chart

A dental chart is a graphical tool for organizing all the important information about your teeth and gums. Your hygienist, who checks the inside of your mouth, typically makes your dental chart.

By investigating your mouth, your hygienist gets information about your teeth and gums, and then makes notes on the chart about any important information that needs to be recorded.

The chart your hygienist produces can take a variety of forms. It’s a graphical, or pictorial, representation of your mouth. It shows every tooth, and includes spaces for making shorthand notes about the condition of your teeth and gums.

Conditions and issues that may be described in your dental chart include:

• areas of decay (cavities)
• missing teeth
• depths of your gum pockets, bleeding points during probing, and gum recession
• abnormalities in your teeth, such as rotations, erosion, or abrasions in your teeth or enamel
• damage to your teeth
• presence of crowns, bridges, implants, and fillings
• attachment of your teeth to the gums
• any movement in your teeth
• any bleeding in your gums

Reasons for dental charting

Your hygienist or dental assistant creates a dental chart of your mouth because it’s a good way of organizing the important information about your dental health. By creating this chart, your dentist has all the information that they need to access your dental health, in one place in a simple format. They will update your chart every time you have a dental checkup so they can track the progress of your dental health.

What to expect during a dental charting

If you’re making a first visit to a new dental office, you can expect that your hygienist will perform a complete dental charting of your mouth. You may only need a brief check of your mouth and an update of your chart during future visits. If you have problems that require treatment, you may need to get a full charting at your next checkup to track improvements.

Your hygienist will begin by counting and numbering your teeth on the chart. Any notable issues you have can then be assigned to the appropriate tooth and marked with a shorthand note on the chart.

Once your teeth are numbered, your hygienist will examine your teeth. They may probe your gums to check the depths of your gum pockets. Usually six readings per tooth are recorded. This is called periodontal charting. Your hygienist will use an instrument to check the tops of your teeth for decay.

After your charting is complete, your hygienist will usually clean your teeth. Then your dentist will do an examination. If there is anything of concern marked on your chart, your dentist will investigate it more thoroughly.

Benefits of dental charting

There are many benefits to keeping a dental chart of your teeth and gums.

Benefits for you

• Your dentist is able to keep a good record of your health issues.
• Your dentist is able to give you the best care possible and track your progress if you have issues that require treatment.

Benefits for your healthcare providers

• The chart gives both you and your dentist a point of reference to see if you’re making progress in your dental health. With better home care, for example, gum pockets could improve.
• They are able to keep an organized and easy-to-read record of the condition of your mouth.
• They can refer back to this chart during future visits and compare your gum pocket depths.
• They can update it to keep an accurate record of what is happening in your mouth.

Follow-up after a dental charting

After a regular checkup and a dental charting, your dentist will tell you what you need to do next. If there are issues of concern, your dentist will recommend things you can do at home, such as regular flossing, or using an electric toothbrush. They will probably also schedule another appointment for any procedures that are needed, like filling a cavity.

Source- https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-periodontal-charting#followup

Dr. George Egbuonu is very interested in dental implant technology and cosmetic dentistry. He remains dedicated to providing dental care to underserved populations both at home and abroad. Dr. George Egbuonu has gained a unique perspective on life in places in which there are few or no dentists, through his work with migrant farm workers of the southwest, isolated populations of Yucatan Mexico's village communities, and the U.S. war veteran population. In his free time, Dr. George Egbuonu has a fondness for anything adventurous, from hiking and whitewater rafting to amateur boxing and fishing. Dr. George Egbuonu takes great pride in caring for his patients with a gentle hand and caring smile. Most of all, Dr. George Egbuonu, is excited to bring his energy and enthusiasm to George Egbuonu LLC.