Dental Check Ups and Cleaning
If your teeth are strong and healthy, that’s great news! We wish everyone could have the same experience. Is it possible, however, that having such great teeth could put you at risk?
Just like going to the doctor, the more you go the more you know – your provider, that is. In this way, those with chronic health concerns are most likely to attend appointments as a priority and to have a more familiar relationship with their care provider than someone who doesn’t suffer from chronic health issues.
The risk faced by those who haven’t had chronic oral health issues is complacency. It can be easy to let the years go by without seeing a dentist for maintenance and a checkup. We understand – life gets busy! But there is a very real risk of forgoing the option of early detection when you don’t see your dentist routinely. Many of the common issues we see in dentistry are effectively prevented with regular checkups and cleaning appointments. For example:
- Small cavities can be filled while they are still small and not sensitive, painful, or abscessed
- Tartar deposits and surface stains on your teeth can be removed before you experience any discolored teeth, bleeding gums, bad breath, and other major gum or bone disease
- Preventative counseling can be discussed if we see any risk factors or evidence of disease such as: cavities, erosion, attrition, abrasion, recession, or gum and bone disease
- Night guards can be custom made if we see evidence of teeth grinding or excessive wear
- Wisdom teeth can be recommended for early removal to reduce the risk of complications
- Referral to the local orthodontist can be discussed if growth or development of the jaw bones and teeth may become problematic
- Oral cancer, or any other disease or pathology, may be detected early so it can be treated promptly
- Any questions you have about your teeth, gums, jaw bones or joint can be discussed
Without these appointments, we often see patients when it’s too late. Perhaps your cavity is too far gone and now requires a root canal or tooth removal. Perhaps your teeth are shifting due to asymptomatic cysts. Or, sometimes, you could have irregularities in your tissues requiring cancer-related biopsies to be performed. These situations can all be avoided with regular checkups!
We recommend that our patients book their next appointment with us before leaving the clinic if possible, since appointments made are more likely to be kept and less likely to be overlooked. Done regularly, cleaning and checkup appointments can save you time (and pain!) compared to skipping checkups and having to undergo procedures later. So, what can you expect at a routine maintenance appointment?
Get in the Routine: Focus on Prevention
We look forward to having you meet our General Dentists and team and providing you with quality dental care in Red Deer to ensure you have a healthy and happy smile for life! Please give us a call @ 403-986-8000 or request an appointment online.
Learn The Process
Your dentist uses the checkup appointment to update your chart, including any medications and health changes. Each of your teeth and their restorations will be inspected visually, and their condition will be documented. Your dentist will also check the soft tissues and not just the teeth – lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and even the lymph nodes in your neck will be checked for signs of concern.
Next, your dentist will assess the quality of your bite – how are your teeth meeting when your mouth is closed? Do you have pain, clicking or popping in your jaw when you open and close your mouth? Is there any jaw muscle soreness?
Your dentist will often also prescribe Digital X-rays to make visible what your dentist can’t see with the naked eye. They form a very important part of the exam. Digital X-rays emit only a fraction of the radiation of old-style analog X-rays. They are safe to have them taken every year.
Problems such as cavities in between teeth, bone disease, wisdom teeth, and cysts in the jaw can be identified and managed earlier with the help of digital X-rays. Many dental problems are easier, cheaper, and more painless to fix the earlier they are spotted.
Do you have any questions about oral health, nutrition, or cosmetic services? Your checkup is a great opportunity to discuss these with your dentist.
Your hygienist will update your chart, including any medications and health changes. The hygienist will do a thorough assessment of the health of your gums and bone, often requiring the use of Digital X-rays, and various fine instruments including the periodontal probe.
The work that you do to keep your teeth clean every day does the heavy lifting as far as cleanliness is concerned. Still, some accumulation of tartar between visits is to be expected. The hygienist will carefully remove tartar as their first order of business. Once scaling is completed, your teeth will be polished to remove surface stains and tartar fragments before they are rinsed.
Your dental hygienist is an expert at assessing the quality of your at-home oral care routine. For example, the tell-tale sign that you’ve been skipping the floss will be whether or not your gums bleed when they are flossed. While it might seem counter-intuitive, bleeding when flossing is an indication that you need to floss more, not less. Bacteria that accumulates between the teeth and gums throughout the day cause inflammation and irritation for your gums. Flossing removes the source of the irritation and, over time, allows the gums to be flossed without producing this response. The hygienist will make recommendations to help improve or maintain your oral health.
You will be offered a fluoride treatment before you go but remember not to eat or drink for the next 30 minutes in order to ensure that you get all the benefits that tooth-strengthening fluoride has to offer. Stop by the front desk for payment on your way out – and don’t forget to book your next appointment!
If you have questions about these or other services offered, contact our clinic today!
Your dentist uses the checkup appointment to update your chart, including any medications and health changes. Each of your teeth and their restorations will be inspected visually, and their condition will be documented. Your dentist will also check the soft tissues and not just the teeth – lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and even the lymph nodes in your neck will be checked for signs of concern.
Next, your dentist will assess the quality of your bite – how are your teeth meeting when your mouth is closed? Do you have pain, clicking or popping in your jaw when you open and close your mouth? Is there any jaw muscle soreness?
Your dentist will often also prescribe Digital X-rays to make visible what your dentist can’t see with the naked eye. They form a very important part of the exam. Digital X-rays emit only a fraction of the radiation of old-style analog X-rays. They are safe to have them taken every year.
Problems such as cavities in between teeth, bone disease, wisdom teeth, and cysts in the jaw can be identified and managed earlier with the help of digital X-rays. Many dental problems are easier, cheaper, and more painless to fix the earlier they are spotted.
Do you have any questions about oral health, nutrition, or cosmetic services? Your checkup is a great opportunity to discuss these with your dentist.
Your hygienist will update your chart, including any medications and health changes. The hygienist will do a thorough assessment of the health of your gums and bone, often requiring the use of Digital X-rays, and various fine instruments including the periodontal probe.
The work that you do to keep your teeth clean every day does the heavy lifting as far as cleanliness is concerned. Still, some accumulation of tartar between visits is to be expected. The hygienist will carefully remove tartar as their first order of business. Once scaling is completed, your teeth will be polished to remove surface stains and tartar fragments before they are rinsed.
Your dental hygienist is an expert at assessing the quality of your at-home oral care routine. For example, the tell-tale sign that you’ve been skipping the floss will be whether or not your gums bleed when they are flossed. While it might seem counter-intuitive, bleeding when flossing is an indication that you need to floss more, not less. Bacteria that accumulates between the teeth and gums throughout the day cause inflammation and irritation for your gums. Flossing removes the source of the irritation and, over time, allows the gums to be flossed without producing this response. The hygienist will make recommendations to help improve or maintain your oral health.
You will be offered a fluoride treatment before you go but remember not to eat or drink for the next 30 minutes in order to ensure that you get all the benefits that tooth-strengthening fluoride has to offer. Stop by the front desk for payment on your way out – and don’t forget to book your next appointment!
If you have questions about these or other services offered, contact our clinic today!
