Regular dental checkups are an important way to stay on top of your overall health and well-being. They help ensure your teeth and gums are clean and healthy, they give your dentist a chance to check for signs of serious diseases that are linked to problems in your mouth, and they help make sure that small problems don’t become big problems by being ignored.
Even if you have a fantastic home-based routine of brushing twice a day and flossing daily, visiting the dentist every 6-9 months is still extremely important.
Here’s what to expect from a routine dental visit:
• Your hygienist will examine your mouth and teeth to check for basic oral hygiene and look for areas that might need more specific care, including:
o Tooth decay – your dentist in South Edmonton will look for visible signs of tooth decay and check to make sure that none of your enamel is softening. This could lead to cavities if not treated early.
o Measurement of the pockets around your teeth to see if you have developed gum disease that has led to bone loss. This is very important, because gum disease can often be reversed if it’s caught early, but if it’s left too long the loss of bone could be permanent and require more invasive treatment down the road.
o Evaluation of your bite to look for any red flags that may impact your oral health.
o Children’s teeth will be checked to make sure they are developing normally, and referrals to an orthodontist will be made if needed.
Often, your dentist will take an x-ray to get a better picture of what’s happening in places that can’t be seen by the naked eye. These x-rays can reveal cavities between the teeth and alert your Edmonton dentist about the health of the bones around the teeth, plus they can highlight the position of developing teeth in children.
Your dentist and their team will check your mouth and neck for any suspicious growths or bumps as an early screen for oral cancer. Most oral cancers can be treated easily and successfully if caught early.
Your hygienist will clean your teeth to keep your gum tissue healthy and to prevent periodontal disease. They will use special tools to scale off any plaque that has hardened and polish your teeth with a special paste to get rid of stains that develop from everyday activities like eating, drinking, and, if you smoke, smoking. They may also floss your teeth.
If you’re ready to schedule an appointment to get on the road to a lifetime of good oral health, give our team at Petrolia Dental in South Edmonton a call today.