Dental Exams And Professional Cleaning

Brushing and flossing at home to keep up your oral health is great, but it’s also important to visit the dentist for checkups and professional cleanings at least twice a year. These checkups allow your dentist to identify any problems in your mouth that you cannot see just by looking in the mirror, giving your dentist the opportunity to get you started on a treatment plan before any problems progress. It also allows us to clean all the hard-to-reach areas your toothbrush and floss cannot get to.

By routinely seeing your dentist for exams and cleanings, you can:

• Prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath
• Save money by avoiding costly dental procedures
• Keep your teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks
• Shorten the time spent in your dentist’s office
• Have a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime

Dental Exams

During your dental exam, your dentist will thoroughly examine each tooth and your entire gum line for any signs of decay, disease, or other health problems. Your dentist may also suggest taking X-rays to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. The images provided by the X-rays help your dentist discover dental issues not visible to the naked eye.

Professional Cleanings

Your dental hygienist will begin your professional cleaning by exploring the surface of your teeth to determine if you have any cavities and to examine the quality of existing fillings. The dental hygienist will then perform a periodontal exam to make sure your gums adhere tightly to your teeth and that no periodontal disease or bone loss may occur. Next, your hygienist will carefully clean your teeth with a variety of tools to remove any hard mineral buildup (tartar) from your teeth. Then, your hygienist will floss your teeth, use a polishing compound, and apply fluoride.

Cleanings usually aren't painful, but if you have any anxiety about your dental exam, be sure to let your hygienist know, as sedation may be an option to ensure your comfort. If your dentist or hygienist finds tooth decay or gum disease, they will talk to you about increasing your brushing or flossing habits. In severe cases, they may recommend antibiotics or other dental treatments. If your teeth and gums appear to be healthy, your dentist will probably recommend that you continue your brushing and flossing routine as usual.

Scaling & Root Planing

Gingivitis is a generative disease that, left untreated, will cause significant tooth and gum deterioration. Just the word gingivitis can strike panic in a patient’s mind. The reality is that the treatment is simple and performed right in your dentist’s office.

Plaque and tartar that sit on the teeth provide an environment that allows bacteria to thrive and multiply. The bacteria cause the gums to become inflamed and bleed. The condition becomes more noticeable when you brush your teeth or sometimes when you eat. These are signs of the early stage of gingivitis. Gingivitis is easily treated by having the hygienist scale and polish the teeth. If gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will progress, and the roots will need a planing. The difference between scaling and root planing is simple. Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth surface Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure.

As a non-surgical procedure, scaling and planing are performed without any anesthesia in the dentist’s office. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area for complete comfort. Deep scaling and root planing are usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for adequate healing time and reduces the time for each appointment.

Dental Hygiene

While at our office, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and ensure that our dental work is of the highest quality. To ensure that you maintain great oral health, this level of quality needs to extend into your personal oral hygiene routine. We can help you establish a dental hygiene routine that will keep your teeth healthy and white. If you have any questions about your current hygiene plan please ask us.

Your teeth are not the only important part of your mouth. Your gums are essential to oral hygiene as well. We can provide periodontal cleanings and treatment, or refer you to one of our recommended specialists. Please let us know if you have any questions.