Routine Dental Exam
Routine dental exams are an essential part of healthy dental care including examining your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gingivitis, and other health problems. Dental exams are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums by providing early treatment and preventive dental care.
Dental Cleaning
Prophy or preventative dental cleaning removes stains, plaque (biofilm is a buildup of bacterial colonies), calculus (hardened plaque) from your teeth above the gumline. Prophy (commonly known as dental cleaning) is usually recommended every six months along with an oral exam and diagnostic x-ray films. However, the recommended six months cleaning depends on hygiene effectiveness of the patient, current health status of the patient’s mouth. If you are due for a checkup and cleaning, please call to make an appointment to clean and polish your teeth to remove disease-causing buildup and bacteria.
Systemic and Immune compromised illness such as diabetes, cancer, and its treatment can also negatively affect the health of gums.
Gum Therapy
Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical based on severity of the disease. Lack of timely treatment progresses the disease. Research has shown correlation between periodontal disease with stroke, heart disease, osteopenia, low birthweight babies, and other diseases.
Usually a checkup and cleaning (oral health maintenance) appointment may include the following services:
Review of your comprehensive medical and dental history that is an essential part of receiving a safe and proper dental treatment
Record any changes in your prescribed medications and physical condition to avoid complications with any medication prescribed or administered
Examine and screen for oral cancer
Examine and screen for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
Examine and screen for bruxism (grinding teeth)
Take necessary diagnostic X-ray films
Evaluate existing dental restorations for proper fit, function and esthetics
Record and perform periodontal examination to assess your periodontal (gum) health
Check your bite (washed out, cracked, or leaking fillings), broken or chipped teeth, chewing
Evaluate possible cosmetic enhancements of your smile
Develop a comprehensive treatment plan
Recommend future treatment
Most of these services will be performed without being noticed by the patient while your teeth are being cleaned.
Tips for a healthy mouth:
“Oral health is part of your overall health”
What can adults do to maintain good oral health?
You can keep your teeth for your lifetime. Following are some tips to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth.- Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste
- Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly and floss between the teeth to remove dental plaque.
- Visit your dentist on a regular basis, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures to rule out presence of other oral disease.
- Tobacco products and excessive alcoholic drinks can be harmful to your oral health.
- If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease.
What causes tooth decay?
Germs in the mouth use the sugar in food and drinks to make acids. Over time, the acids can make a cavity in the tooth. A healthy tooth is the best tooth; therefore, it is important to prevent decay. That’s why sealants are so important.
Why Do Back Teeth Decay So Easily?
The chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven because they have small pits and grooves. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and grooves and stay there a long time because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away.