How Important is Oral Hygiene?

Oral hygiene is necessary for eliminating bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria builds to form plaque that can harden and lead to long-term ailments such as gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, and periodontal disease if it is not removed. A good dental care routine and regular check ups will keep your mouth healthy and prevent inflammation, infection, decay, and tooth loss.

 

Why Get a Dental Exam?

Dental exams give us the opportunity to evaluate your current methods of dental care and provide suggestions for future care in order to protect you from complications such as cavities and gum disease. They also allow us to detect problems early so they can be fixed quickly and easily.

 

How Often Should You Get a Dental Exam?

Dental exams should generally take place every six months. Our team will determine how often you should be examined based on factors such as smoking, frequency of cavities, and genetic susceptibility to tooth and root decay as well as gum disease.

 

What Can I Expect From a Dental Exam?

At a typical dental exam, we will check for signs of decay or gum disease. X-rays will be taken to provide us a more detailed summary of your oral health. We will go over your current methods of dental care and provide suggestions on how to improve your habits at home. If possible, our team will thoroughly clean your teeth, removing any surface stains or deposits, called tartar or calculus. These deposits are more difficult to remove than plaque and require the assistance of professional dental instruments.

 

How Can You Prepare For a Dental Exam?

Be sure to clean your teeth before you arrive at your appointment. Our team will be cleaning your teeth for you, but it is helpful to remove food and plaque beforehand so we can focus on the more difficult-to-clean areas. You also want to make sure you are prepared to share pertinent information such as your list of medications, medical history, insurance coverage and current dental care methods with us. Don’t be embarrassed to be honest about your oral health habits – our team is not here to judge you, but to work with you to improve your habits and ensure dental health! Lastly, be prepared to schedule a follow-up appointment or future check-up at the end of your dental exam.