Contrary to popular belief, your most important visit to the dentist isn’t the one where you receive a root canal, or a filling, or even a new tooth. It’s the one that you schedule regularly. Regular visits to the dentist should be scheduled every six months, or, failing that, at least once a year. This is integral to giving you the routine dental exams and teeth cleaning you need to maintain your teeth’ health, quality, and beauty.
Your best weapon against tooth decay is prevention. Schedule a meeting with our Smile Wellness dental clinic today, and let’s get started today.
What Can I Expect From a Dental Exam?
During your dental appointment, our trusted dentists will first assess the current conditions of your mouth and teeth. Our dentist will then see if your teeth and gums are healthy, satisfactory, or poor from this assessment. We will carry out a dental exam to best make this determination.
Dental Exams
Your oral inspection includes the following:
- Visual inspection, palpation, percussion, and, if necessary, thermal tests.
- Photographs will be taken to visualize the condition of your mouth.
- In some cases, dental casts will be taken, so your dentist can have a three-dimensional impression of your teeth.
- Dental radiographs may be performed when an even more definitive assessment of your teeth condition is needed. Radiographs will give a picture of the inner layers of your teeth and bone.
X-Rays
In some cases, an X-ray may be taken during your visit if we need some extra help pinpointing a potential problem with your teeth. X-rays are safe and straightforward and can help us find likely cavities, infections, and more, so we can explore treatment options.
Keep in mind that digital X-rays have a much lower level of radiation than traditional X-rays and that we take every precaution. Lead shielding is used to protect your body from any possible radiation.
We tend to recommend X-rays for most of our new patients to best understand their specific dental needs for future visits.
Targeting Plaque and Tartar
We may find plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. Cleaning this off requires using a scaler to remove any deposits. Dental teeth cleaning can also remove superficial stains from food, coffee, and more.
Once the buildup is gone, we can begin brushing your teeth. Naturally, the form of brushing we employ is more extensive than what you perform on your own. We use specialized toothpaste that gently scrubs your teeth before removing any buildup that is left over. Generally, this tastes no different from regular toothpaste.
Then, we finish up with an expert-level flossing service. This should get rid of any plaque left over. We then rinse out your mouth with a thorough flush, removing the toothpaste and any other leftover debris.
Finally, we finish the treatment by applying a fluoride paste to your teeth to help prevent future decay. This fluoride comes in several different flavors.
After the Teeth Cleaning
After your cleaning, we will ensure you walk out of our office with teeth that are protected against future decay. You will be able to go back to your regular schedule; just make sure to avoid eating food for at least an hour and a half after the procedure. We will likely ask you to schedule a future appointment so that we can have it on the books. This helps both doctor and patient keep things organized and on schedule. Remember, your cleanings and dental appointments must be regular for a truly healthy set of teeth.