Dental Check Ups & Cleaning

Failing to have a regular cleaning and examination can have disastrous results. Dental decay can easily eat its way from the outside of a tooth to the nerve inside the tooth in a matter of months, resulting in a cavity. This is why it’s important for most children and adults to have a dental check up examination every six months.

Certain medical conditions and lifestyles can expose you to greater risk for oral disease such as tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, pregnancy, periodontal and gum disease and poor oral hygiene. Such persons should have dental check ups more frequently.

Early tooth decay often does not have many physical signs. During the examination x-rays are taken and studied to ensure that there is no hidden dental decay between the teeth as . Sometimes the tooth looks healthy, but your dentist will be able to see from an x-ray whether you have any decay under the enamel, any possible infections in the roots, or any bone loss around the tooth. When cavities are small, they are much easier and less expensive to treat.

In addition to an x-ray, all the surfaces of the teeth, along with the patient’s gums, are checked. The surfaces of the oral tissues are also examined for normal color and shape.

Going to your regular check ups will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy as well as detect any problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities at early stages.