All You Need to Know About Dental Exams and Cleanings!

It is natural for many people to express fear with dental exams and cleanings. You might have a similar fear because of the prodding, strange noises, and occasional discomfort. However, the procedure is straightforward and painless.

Having precise information about what happens during the procedure helps ease your stress and allows you to better enjoy the minty-fresh results.

The Procedure Begins with a Physical Exam

The dentist in Royse city starts the procedure with a physical exam of your entire mouth. During the routine checkup, the dentist looks for signs of tooth decay and resulting cavities. These issues can affect your dental pulp, the soft center of your tooth spreading to its roots and beyond.

A warning sign of potential tooth decay is the buildup of plaque and tartar, which also causes gum disease. However, there is more to a dental exam than merely checking for tooth decay and cavities. Dental exams also indicate signs of oral cancer, gum disease, and various other medical conditions.

Plaque and Tartar Removal

When undergoing a dental exam and cleaning near you, the hygienist starts the dental cleaning using a scaler for plaque and tartar removal around your gum line and between your teeth. You will hear scraping sounds, especially if you have excessive tartar in your mouth. Brushing and flossing stop plaque from hardening into tartar, but if you are negligent with brushing and flossing, tartar removal requires help from a dental professional.

Teeth Polishing

After completing tartar removal entirely, the hygienist brushes your teeth with an electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste making a grinding noise. The sounds are scary, but it is an excellent technique to get a deep clean for removing tartar left behind by the scaler. The toothpaste has a gritty consistency, gently scrubbing your teeth. When performed by a professional, the polishing is deemed safe twice a year. However, you must refrain from using the toothpaste at home because it can wear down the enamel.

Flossing Lessons

Whether you use dental floss at home or not, the dental hygienist gives you flossing lessons by getting deep between your teeth to locate any trouble spots where your gums might need. The flossing lesson also helps remove excess plaque or toothpaste from the earlier cleaning process.

Rinsing

After a dental cleaning, the hygienist has you rinse your mouth to remove any remaining debris. You generally receive a rinse containing liquid fluoride.

Fluoride Treatment

The eventual step of the cleaning process is a fluoride treatment. Fluoride treatments function as protectants for your teeth to help battle against cavities for several months.

Other Steps

You can schedule routine dental exams and cleanings twice a year. During the exams, the dentist also x-rays your teeth. You might think, why must you go through the entire procedure or whether you can request teeth cleaning without exam. However, most dentists consider merely dental cleaning a dangerous practice. You can visit dentists requesting teeth cleanings without exams but realize why you mustn’t indulge in the practice. Avoid the exam until you develop issues in your mouth that might require intensive treatments.

Dental exams and cleanings are completed within the hour and included in the appointment. However, if the dentist or hygienist observes issues in your mouth, they might recommend additional exams during your visit.

Why Receive Regular Exams and Cleanings

When you maintain oral health in optimal condition, it helps you achieve a perfect smile and keeps your body healthy. The procedure is required every six months unless the state of your oral health requires additional attention

Visiting your dentist twice a year may not be the appointment you look forward to. However, this procedure helps stop problems before they start. Therefore it is crucial that you get a dental exam and cleanings as recommended by your dentist to prevent oral health problems before they occur.

How to Benefit Fully from Dental Exams and Cleanings?

If you intend to acquire the full benefits of dental prophylaxis, it is essential for you to maintain excellent dental hygiene practices at home. The bacteria attacking your teeth and gums are persistent and develop quickly, even after professional cleanings. Therefore you must brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss them at least once, refrain from having sugary and starchy foods and visit your dentist for checkups and cleanings.

Pleasure Dental recommends dental exams and cleanings for everyone, including children, twice a year. If you have delayed this essential procedure, kindly contact the facility right away to safeguard your oral health.