Do You Know What Happens during Dental Exams and Cleanings?
Suppose you are unaware of what happens during dental exams and cleanings. In that case, you will likely avoid your dental appointment attempting to stay away from the smells of the dental office or the occasional jaw discomfort. However, if you try to understand teeth cleaning is a straightforward and painless procedure, you will not hesitate to go forward with the appointment for dental exams and cleanings in Caledon, ON.
The Bolton dentist performs a dental examination as a preventive measure to ensure no problems exist in your mouth. If they detect any prompt treatments are provided to control or eliminate the issue at the very earliest. You could be scared of going to your dentist either because of past experiences or dental anxiety. However, after reading the information published in this article, we are confident we will convince you dental exams and cleanings are not something to overlook.
How Does the Examination Begin?
Teeth cleanings are mostly performed by dental hygienists. Before beginning the procedure, the hygienist will perform an entire physical exam of your mouth. Small mirrors are used by the hygienist to look around your teeth and gums for indications of gum disease or any other potential concerns. If problems are detected, your dentist evaluates the situation before confirming it is OK to go ahead.
Plaque and Tartar Removal
Continuing to use the small mirror for guidance, the dental hygienist uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from around your gum line and between your teeth. Some scraping sounds are heard during this process, which is quite familiar. If you have excessive tartar on your teeth, you will listen to the scraping music a little longer.
Plaque and tartar would have built up on your teeth because of improper oral hygiene. After tartar hardens on your teeth, brushing and flossing won’t remove it, and you must visit your dentist to hear the scraping music to get it off. It should be a lesson to you to begin maintaining proper dental hygiene.
Polishing Your Teeth
You have some more music lessons coming after the scraping session. The hygienist will brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush using gritty toothpaste. This music appears scary but is an excellent method to get a deep clean to remove any tartar leftover by the scaler. The polishing may encourage you to begin using a similar tool at home. However, you must refrain from doing so because you will likely wear down the enamel.
Flossing Lessons
Do you floss regularly at home? If you don’t, the hygienist provides an expert flossing lesson. The hygienist gets deep between your teeth to find any inherent trouble spots where bleeding may happen in the gums. The professional flossing lesson is an excellent way to remove leftover plaque or toothpaste from the cleaning process earlier.
Rinsing Your Mouth
Rinsing your mouth is expected at your dentist’s office to remove any debris remaining in your mouth. Finally, the hygienist applies fluoride treatment to your teeth to help fight against cavities for many months.
It is recommended by the CDC that everyone must undergo professional teeth cleanings once every six months. The dentist you visit may decide to take dental x-rays once a year. However, your dentist is the best judge to determine what exams they must perform depending on what they observe in your mouth.
It is not uncommon for dentists to routinely perform examinations for oral cancer or any other conditions as a preventive measure. You must understand dental exams and cleanings are part of preventive dentistry meant to ensure you are free from any unwanted infections. The visit to the dentist’s office will undoubtedly cost you, but if you have dental insurance, you will realize your insurance provider covers dental exams and cleanings.
Children also need to undergo dental exams and cleanings every six months. Dentists recommend dental sealants on their molars to prevent cavities in the difficult to brush areas. Children are also recommended in-office fluoride treatments as a preventive measure against dental caries.
Whether our dentist near you, recommends additional steps or not, you need to continue going back to your dentist for regular teeth cleanings to ensure you don’t encounter any problems down the line. When you attempt to understand what’s happening in your mouth in advance, you will feel at ease and perhaps look forward to the appointments without fear.