No one is exempted from tooth decay and cavities, anyone is practically susceptible to getting their teeth decayed and damaged especially when good oral hygiene is not maintained. But in order to achieve good oral health, your daily habits of brushing and flossing should be incorporated with regular dental visits. During your dental consultations, your dentist can perform comprehensive exams and checkups for you to help you stay on top of your oral health. Diagnostic and preventive services will be given which are significant and vital for your oral health.
The diagnostic services that your dentist can provide you are the following:
- Reviewing of your medical records and history so that your dentist will be aware of any existing health conditions that may have an impact on your oral health. examples of these conditions are pregnancy, diabetes and heart problems
- Oral cancer examination and screening
- Assessment and evaluation of your gum tissues
- Checking of the patterns of your biting, chewing and swallowing
- Taking of X-rays to examine tooth decay
- Referral to other specialists if necessary
Here are some of the preventive services that your dentist can provide:
- Scraping of plaque and tartar
- Removal of stains from the surfaces of your teeth
- Fluoride application and treatment
- Pediatric fluoride treatment
- Dental sealants
- Polishing of restorations such as fillings and crowns
- Cleaning and adjustment of dentures both complete and partial dentures
Educational services are the following but are not limited to:
- Instructions on the proper techniques of brushing and flossing
- Nutritional counselling
- Recommendations for treatments in the future like follow up treatments, periodontal concerns and other restorative treatment options applicable for damaged teeth
- Evaluation of proper home care
- Counselling on smoking cessation
Aside from these checkups and assessments, your dentist will also be performing professional dental cleaning for you. Teeth cleaning, also known as prophylaxis, is the process by which the deposits of tartar and plaque in the surfaces of your teeth are removed by your dentist. This is very useful and beneficial especially when there is too much accumulation of tartar in your teeth so that it does not progress to the development of decay and cavities. Deep dental cleaning involves scaling and root planing. Scaling is when the plaque buildup are removed from the surfaces of your teeth using scaling tools. These are the plaque and tartar deposits that are not removed even when you brush and floss because they have already hardened on your teeth. Planing is the process by which your dentist eliminates the rough edges or surfaces on your teeth where bacteria can grow and spread.
How does dental cleaning help you?
- Dental cleaning helps in the prevention of cavities because you get to address the main causes of cavities which are the plaque.
- Dental cleanings can help you avoid tooth loss because tooth loss is primarily caused by gum problems. Gum infections and diseases are the result of the spread of bacteria in your mouth. If the spread of bacteria is managed by good oral hygiene and by regular dental cleanings, you will also not be at risk of tooth loss.
- Dental cleanings brighten your smile. There are a lot of food and beverages that cause stain and discoloration and sometimes these stains are so stubborn that they cannot be removed no matter how hard you brush. This is where dental cleanings can come in. Dental cleanings can help remove stubborn stains to make your teeth look brighter and whiter.
- Dental cleanings can help you achieve a clean and fresher breath. Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria which feed on the food that you eat. When you brush and floss, you cannot be guaranteed that all the food particles and debris are removed from your teeth and from the spaces between. But when you get dental cleaning, your dentist will be able to clean even the smallest spaces where bacteria can proliferate so that you do not have to suffer from bad breath.
- Dental cleanings can be good for your overall health too. The conditions of your teeth and gums can be associated to certain medical conditions so the more that you take good care of your mouth, your general health can also be taken care of.
To schedule an appointment, call Greenfield Family Dentistry at (480) 420-3930, or visit us at 875 N. Greenfield Road, Suite 114 Gilbert, AZ 85234.
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