Most people think of their regular dental checkups as an opportunity for their dentist to look for cavities and make sure their teeth are clean. While those things are certainly important, your routine visits involve much more than meets the eye. Behind the scenes, your dentist is carefully assessing your oral health, screening for early warning signs of disease, and making sure your smile — and your body — stay healthy in the long term.

Here are some of the lesser-known steps your dentist may be taking during your checkup.