CLEANING & CHECKUPS

Procedures vary with each dentist, but the basic elements of an adult checkup are:

Review of dental records, medical history and past X-rays. Your dentist keeps detailed records of your dental health. If you move to a new community or change your dentist for another reason, make sure a copy of your records is transferred to your new dentist without delay.

Dentists don’t just check your teeth; they also check all the soft tissues in your mouth including your gums, tongue, cheeks and palate to assess your overall health. Sometimes, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) exam is necessary to detect any joint abnormalities.

Procedures vary with each dentist, but the basic elements of an adult checkup are:

Review of dental records, medical history and past X-rays. Your dentist keeps detailed records of your dental health. If you move to a new community or change your dentist for another reason, make sure a copy of your records is transferred to your new dentist without delay.

Dentists don’t just check your teeth; they also check all the soft tissues in your mouth including your gums, tongue, cheeks and palate to assess your overall health. Sometimes, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) exam is necessary to detect any joint abnormalities.

Some people have a strange attitude towards checkups.

They think that if the dentist doesn’t find something wrong, they’ve wasted their time. A series of successful checkups can discourage people from ever seeing their dentist again.

The idea that you should only see your dentist when something is wrong with your teeth may end up costing you a lot of money, time and comfort. Your dentist can detect and treat most dental problems before you’re even aware of them.

Checkups are not isolated events. They’re a series of regular assessments of the condition of your mouth, part of a long-term strategy for keeping healthy. A successful checkup shows you that your home care is working, and that it’s not a waste of time. Also, regular professional cleanings will make an enormous difference to the condition of your mouth.

X-rays help the dentist check areas of teeth and hard tissues otherwise not visible.

They show dental decay, the location and condition of your present fillings, and the root and tissues surrounding the tooth. Dental x-rays are completely safe, even so, its good practice to avoid any unnecessary exposure. Make sure you tell your dentist if you are pregnant. X-rays are a must for preventing bone loss, the number one cause of tooth loss in adults.

Regular fluoride treatments are a useful supplement to the fluoride many of us already get in our drinking water and most dental hygiene products. These treatments help prevent tooth decay; Recent studies also suggest that fluoride may slow down plaque formation as well.

After your examination, your dentist and hygienist assess your home care practices, and may give you advice or information about areas that could be improved.

To maintain your overall oral health, dental visits are recommended every 6-12 months. Your dentist will be able to recommend a more customized schedule based on your specific needs as everyone’s dental situation varies.