Did you know that your smile requires regular attention from your dentist in order to stay healthy? While you may brush your teeth and floss diligently at home, you should attend check-ups at your dentist’s office to maximize preventive dental care.
The average person needs to visit the dentist at least twice a year. But some dental patients might require more frequent dental attention to fight dental problems like tooth decay or gum disease. Your dentist can give you the individualized oral healthcare you require to keep your smile looking and feeling its best.
You can feel more at ease booking these dental appointments when you know what will occur during these visits. Discover what to expect when you attend a routine dental check-up by reading on.
Oral Examination
Your dental check-up will begin with a visual exam of your smile conducted by your dentist. They will check for signs of dental concerns like cavities or gum disease. If they diagnose them early, they can offer swift treatment before they progress and cause significant damage to your smile.
The dentist will also recommend getting an x-ray of your smile once a year. This way, the dentist can see the inner layers of your teeth not visible to the naked eye. They can identify tooth decay and monitor other dental changes with this imaging on file.
Professional Teeth Cleaning
Your dentist will also perform a professional dental cleaning during your routine appointment. Though you complete oral hygiene at home, your toothbrush and floss might miss some spots of your smile, leaving plaque and tartar on the surface of your teeth. Your dentist will need to remove this build-up before it can deteriorate your dental structure and make you vulnerable to decay and other issues.
First, the dentist will give you a mouthwash to rinse away initial residues from your mouth. They will then use a cleaning technique called scaling to scrape away stubborn residues on your teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the gumline.
Seaside Family and Cosmetic Dentistry employs the Airflow system, an advanced tool that makes this cleaning process more comfortable for the patient than a traditional scaler. The dentist finishes the cleaning by polishing the teeth with a special brush and paste and flossing between the teeth.
Preventive Dental Treatments
After your oral exam and dental cleaning, your dentist can recommend other preventive treatments that can improve your oral health. Many people may benefit from fluoride treatment, for example.
This involves applying concentrated fluoride, a natural mineral, to the teeth. It absorbs into the enamel to strengthen it, making your smile more resistant to surface stains, decay, and more.
You can also ask your dentist about sealants. Dentists often suggest applying this protective resin layer over the teeth of pediatric dental patients. But patients of any age can benefit from this extra shield over their smiles. Learn more about preventive dental solutions when you call your dentist today.