A dental exam is a procedure whereby a dentist conducts a physical dental checkup, then recommends a 3D x-ray if need be and a cleaning procedure by a dental hygienist. The dental exam is aimed at protecting your oral health. It is used to help find oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease before they bring dental complications. The dentist will also enlighten you on the best ways to care for your teeth and gums. The dental exam and cleaning procedure are essential practices for good dental health in the long run. There are also very few risks involved with the procedure. The cleaning may, however, be a little uncomfortable but not painful. Your new patient dental exam will include x-rays, physical tooth examination, and radiographs. This will ensure that even what is not visible to the naked eye is seen clearly.

What Happens In a Teeth Cleaning Procedure?

A physical exam is first carried out whereby a small mirror is used to check around your teeth—the dentist checks for potential concerns such as inflamed gums. After the dental checkup, teeth cleaning procedure may be recommended. The dental hygienist utilizes a scaler to remove plaque and tartar around your gum line. Daily hygiene practices such as brushing teeth and flossing prevent plaque from forming. However, on hardening, the plaque forms tartar that a dentist can only remove. The dental hygienist then uses an electric brush to brush your teeth. The toothpaste used has a gritty consistency that gently scrubs your teeth. The next step is expert flossing. This removes any leftover plaque or toothpaste from the cleaning process before. The dental hygienist will then give you a rinse that has liquid fluoride. This will get rid of any debris. The last step of the dental cleaning procedure is a fluoride treatment. This is a protectant to help fight against cavities for a couple of months. Again, you could ask if there are flavors available and pick the one that appeals to you. A foamy gel is applied into a mouthpiece that fits over the teeth during the fluoride treatment. The gel is then left on the teeth for one minute.

How Often Should You Get a Dental Exam?

Dental exams are essential in determining dental conditions long before they progress. Therefore, it is recommended that you get a dental exam every six months. At 14^th Avenue Dentistry, we offer our patients a comprehensive dental exam and fix any dental issues that they may have. Besides regular daily hygiene practices for optimum oral health, it is essential to carry out a routine dental checkup. Dentists recommend that you go for a dental exam and cleaning in Markham, ON, at least once a year. However, twice a year should be the goal for optimum oral health. Some conditions make it necessary to increase the frequency of dental exam visits to more than twice a year. Such conditions include having a history of periodontal disease or gum infection.

Benefits of a Dental Exam and Cleaning Procedure

A dental exam involves cleaning by a dental hygienist, a general checkup, and an x-ray. A physical exam is first conducted before the actual cleaning process to assess whether you need to get your teeth cleaned. Teeth cleaning without an exam is a dangerous practice and is not advised. In addition, it may yield other complications that had not been flagged since the patient had not undergone a dental exam. Some of the benefits of a dental exam and cleaning procedure include ensuring that problems likely to occur are revealed and treated on the onset. Such problems include tumors, oral cancer, and other diseases revealed using 3D imaging. These visits also reveal the presence of cavities, tooth decay, chipped teeth, or gum disease. These problems may have been present but not noticeable to you. However, a dentist will be able to flag such a problem during a dental exam. Regular dental exams are also money-saving. This is through the concept of preventive dentistry. Dental health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease are prevented from happening in the first place.