Good oral hygiene starts with regular dental exams and cleanings. Many conditions in the body first show up in the mouth – and your family doctor rarely looks in your mouth! More than a dental check-up, regular dental exams help identify potential problems before they become issues. Regular cleaning helps to remove plaque and tartar build-up, which contribute to peridontal disease. This treatment is tailored to each person’s specific dental needs.
Dental Exam
When you come in for a dental exam, you will first be asked if you have any concerns or complaints. On your first visit, we will go over your medical history. Then, we will perform a soft tissue exam, examining areas including your gums, roof of the mouth, tongue, and underneath the tongue, which is a high-risk area for oral cancer.
We will then do a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) assessment, check and record your bite, and assess the condition of your teeth (looking for crowding or evidence of grinding). At this appointment we also check for decay in between the teeth. Our office is equipped for taking digital X-rays, which we perform as needed for more accurate assessments. Finally, we conduct an assessment procedure called probing, which checks for any bone loss around the teeth. Your cleaning frequency will be determined depending on the extent of the bone loss we find.
At the end, we review everything with you, the patient. We discuss our findings, possible outcomes, and provide you with patient education relevant to you (eg, risks for cavities or recommendations for diet changes).
Teeth Cleaning
Plaque is a white, film-like substance that contains bacteria and is constantly being formed on your teeth, both above and below the gumline. While regular, proper brushing can remove a significant portion of plaque, the remainder will over time, harden into tartar (also called calculus). Tartar, if left untreated, will signal the body to send enzymes to break down the foreign substance. However, the enzymes also reduce the bone around the teeth, thus creating bone loss.
When you come in for teeth cleaning, we carefully remove the plaque and tartar buildup through processes called scaling and root planing. This plaque and tartar is not removable through regular brushing alone. Depending on the degree of buildup, some patients need to come in for a second cleaning.
After the scaling is finished, we polish your teeth so they look their shiny best. Finally as an option, we administer fluoride treatment to protect your teeth from decay.