There are two (2) parts to the average dental checkup. Part one is the examination/cleaning and the other part is the prophylaxis. You should visit your dentist at least once every 6 months or as recommended by dental professionals.
Check-Up Cleaning & Examination:
Your checkup cleaning and your examination are the first and most routine part of your dental examination. Your dental hygenist will check for cavities or other issues with your oral health. X-rays can also be taken to indicate cavities that might not yet be visible from the surface of the tooth. This can help treat cavities before they become bigger issues in your oral health.
At this time, plaque and tartar will also be removed from your teeth. Flossing will also occur to determine your oral health and to help prevent gum disease. If you don’t floss regularly and your gums bleed, you will definitely be encouraged to floss more often to keep the gums healthy.
Oral Prophylaxis Treatment:
The second part of the treatment you will receive is oral prophylaxis treatment which checks your gums and measures the distance between the spaces in your teeth and gums. If your gums are healthy the spaces are shallow, however, for people with gum disease these spaces deepen.
You will also get a thorough examination of your tongue, throat, face, and head to ensure that no abnormalities are present. Any signs of swelling or redness or signs of cancer are readily looked for as well.
Additional Procedures:
Patients who need scaling done to their teeth may also receive polishing with a gritty paste to remove all of the buildups that need to come off. Tools to remove tartar will be used as well.
Caring For Your Teeth Between Visits:
If you are to care for your teeth between visits, you need to do the following to ensure their care is adequate:
- Brush your teeth at least 2x per day
- Use toothpaste that contains fluoride
- Floss daily
- Use a mouthwash that that helps control tartar, plaque, and bacteria buildup
- Visit the dentist every 6 months
- Have your dentist check for any issues during each visit
- Ask about trouble areas you can improve
These problem areas ensure that you are taking great care of your teeth at all times! Ask your doctor these questions, if you are still curious about dental checkups.
Conclusions:
When you take great care of your oral health, dentist trips become less painful! Asking about improvements helps keep you on top of your oral health at all times and ensure that you’re able to remain healthy and happy as possible without compromising your oral health.