Dr. Katie ToThe Wellness Dentist, CEO and Founder of Center for Wellness Dentistry and Wellness Dentist Institute.

This Is What a Real Dental Exam Looks Like — Most People Have Never Had One

4 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief segment, Dr. Katie To outlines her "4D dentistry" approach to a comprehensive dental examination. The exam begins with an assessment of the patient's posture and how their bite aligns with the cervical spine (C1‑C7). Saliva is examined under a microscope to detect microscopic signs of oral health issues. A visual inspection of the mouth follows, focusing on gum tissue and overall bite. The clinician evaluates chewing ability, noting asymmetrical chewing patterns and any jaw‑cracking sounds. Finally, the tongue is examined for tongue‑tie and the airway is assessed for potential breathing concerns. This multi‑dimensional protocol aims to uncover hidden functional problems that standard exams often miss.

Chapters

We look at their posture. We look at how their bite related to the neck from C1 to C7. And then we're also looking at the saliva under the microscope. Actually, they can see visually what's going on in their mouth. And we also look at their bite. We're looking at their gum tissues, their chewing ability. We call it the 4D dentistry where everyone chew differently. Some people chewing more on one side than the other. Some people hear some cracking noise in the jaw when they chew. And then also we look at the tongue evaluation. Do you have tongue tie? Do you have any issues with the airway? We evaluate all that.