Importance of Dental Exam and Cleaning

Importance of Dental Exam and Cleaning

Mar 01, 2022

When was the last time you scheduled an appointment with your dentist for a dental exam and cleaning? If it has been over a year, expect to have significant problems with your teeth and gums merely because you forgot or didn’t have the time to schedule these essential visits to your dentist. Do you think we are merely bragging about psyching you into contacting your dentist right away? We are happy to clarify your thoughts by providing sufficient reasons why six-monthly dental visits for an exam or cleaning are essential.

What Makes These Visits Your Dentist Essential?

You brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each as recommended by your dentist and also use dental floss. Can you guarantee that brushing and flossing are sufficient to eliminate all plaque from your teeth? Specks of plaque continue remaining between your teeth and constantly keep forming to deposit acids on your teeth that erode your tooth enamel. Plaque hardens into tartar within 48 hours on your teeth and below the gum line. Plaque and tartar are leading causes of gum disease that may impact you silently to cause severe complications.

When you neglect a dental exam and cleaning in Etobicoke, ON, you become susceptible to problems like cavities on your teeth because of enamel erosion by the acids deposited by plaque and gum disease because of plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and below the gum line. Are you willing to endure multiple visits to dentists for fillings and periodontal treatment because you avoided a simple dental exam and cleaning? We are confident you will think again to schedule your appointment with the dentist as soon as possible.

What Can You Expect During Your Appointment?

When performing a dental exam, expect the dentist to examine your teeth and gums, looking for signs of cavities and gum disease. They also take x-rays of your mouth to detect holes between your teeth that might develop if you delay dental exams for too long. Expect your entire mouth to receive an evaluation checking for any abnormalities in your mouth that might indicate oral cancer. After the dentist completes your exam, they hand you over to the dental hygienist to receive teeth cleaning.

You might think teeth cleaning is unnecessary because you maintain excellent oral hygiene. However, the dental hygienist will probably surprise you by using tiny mirrors and scalers to scrape around the back of your teeth and your gum line when removing plaque and tartar deposits that might leave you alarmed.

After plaque and tartar removal, your teeth receive a brushing with creepy toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. The gritty toothpaste creates a grinding noise making it unpleasant after plaque removal. However, the brushing is excellent to remove excess plaque between your teeth from the earlier cleaning and polish your teeth to give them a brighter appearance.

As the hygienist completes the brushing, they provide you with a flossing demonstration getting deep between your teeth to locate any sensitive spots that might bleed. Finally, the hygienist requests you to rinse your mouth and receive a fluoride treatment to battle against cavities for several months.

What after the Dental Exam and Cleaning?

After the dental exam and cleaning, the dentist and hygienist will discuss your oral health and recommend changes to your oral hygiene routine if necessary. They create a personalized treatment plan for you if you have any infections in your mouth to prevent their spread.

If you have loose restorations or need any repair to existing restorations, the dentist informs you about them to keep you prepared for any dental emergency that might strike you without warning. Finally, the dentist reminds you about your next dental appointment for a similar procedure to ensure your oral and overall health remains in prime shape.

The American Dental Association recommends six-monthly visits to dentists for exams and cleanings. These procedures help dentists detect any issues in your mouth early and provide prompt treatments before they aggravate. Getting dental treatments early helps prevent significant expenditure on dental treatments later because you were proactive with your dental hygiene routine and received the exam and cleaning when and as recommended by your dentist. Dental exams and cleanings are essential preventive care requirement that helps you prevent unnecessary expenditure and save money in the long run.

If you haven’t scheduled a dental exam and cleaning in Etobicoke over the last year, please schedule an appointment with Regency Dental Care to receive this preventive treatment and care for your oral health.