Dental exams and teeth cleanings are crucial to your long-term oral health, so your dentist emphasizes preventive dentistry in Anderson, SC.
The American Dental Association and most dentists recommend an appointment every six months for patients with healthy smiles. If you have a dental condition, this schedule is customized to address your situation.
Let’s explore dental exams in teeth cleanings in our comprehensive guide.
Dental Exams and Teeth Cleanings: A Comprehensive Guide
Dental Exam
During your dental exam, your dentist is looking for oral health changes since your last visit and anything that may signal a new or emerging oral health issue. The first step is merely a visual exam using small, mirrored instruments.
Of course, your dentist will share findings with you if there are issues.
Periodontal Exam
This is part of your dental exam and is also a visual check. At this stage, your Anderson dentist is looking for gum health issues, including inflammation, recession, and pocketing.
In periodontal disease, especially in advanced periodontitis, your gums pull away from your teeth, leaving pockets where bacteria can collect. Your dentist can spot even the early signs of gum disease through a visual exam.
Periodontitis is especially concerning because it can cause tooth loss and even influence whole-body wellness.
Studies link untreated gum disease with the following:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Pregnancy and birth complications
- Heart health
- Diabetes
- Lung health
Occlusal Exam
An occlusal exam concentrates on oral function, including how jaw joints work (TMJ) and how your teeth come together in a bite. We also look for issues like bruxism and musculature problems. Your dentist wants to ensure that your smile is functioning as it should and that no conditions will eventually cause pain or impact your oral health.
TMJ is a painful condition used often to describe dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints—the hinge-like joints in front of the ears that allow for chewing, speaking, and yawning.
Bruxism means nocturnal teeth grinding, which can cause significant pain over time and lead to tooth loss and dental fractures.
Radiographic Exam
Your dentist will run x-rays periodically, especially if you’re a new patient, have not had films in a while, or we suspect an underlying condition.
Through x-rays, your dentist can diagnose emerging issues before you have symptoms. This step often saves you time and money in the future on lengthy or ongoing treatments.
Our dental office uses digital x-rays to reduce radiation exposure significantly and produce resizable films that are easy to store electronically.
Oral Cancer Screening
We provide an oral cancer screening when you visit our dental office for regular checkups and teeth cleaning. By screening every six months, your dentist can detect oral cancer early. Typically, early detection of cancer is the best course for recovery.
TMJ Exam
This may be included in your occlusal check. However, if your dentist strongly suspects TMJ, this may be a separate check to help identify the cause and best treatment course for your TMJ.
Aesthetic Exam
During this portion of your checkup, we encourage you to share smile concerns with the dentist. For example, if you feel your teeth are not white enough or have cosmetic issues you’d like to address. The dentist can discuss options with you, including costs and candidacy.
In some cases, correcting a minor smile imperfection is within the budget. Patients are often surprised.
Steps of a Dental Cleaning
Dental cleanings in Anderson, SC, are part of your six-month checkup. Here is what to expect…
- First, you relax in the dental chair while the hygienist gently removes built-up plaque and tartar from your teeth. This is a relaxing treatment that is never painful.
- Next, the hygienist will look for anything out of the ordinary to be shared with the dentist.
- After your cleaning, the hygienist will polish your teeth and talk to you about how it went or if there are specific areas you may be missing with your toothbrush and dental floss.
- Finally, the hygienist always has time to answer your questions, including how to better care for your teeth, what foods you should incorporate into your diet and those you should avoid.
Why Your Comprehensive Oral Assessment Matters
Assessing your teeth and gums every six months allows your dentist to monitor oral health changes that can lead to issues in the future. Some dental health issues cost more money than you want to spend, and treatments can be ongoing. Preventive dentistry is the solution.
Your assessment also educates you about steps you can take to ensure your oral health stays on course between checkups and teeth cleanings.
And if you feel nervous about seeing the dentist, we promise a gentle and friendly atmosphere, and our team encourages you to listen to your favorite music on headphones.
If you need more reassurance, talk to your Anderson dentist about sedation dentistry, including nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. With the latter, you may not recall your treatment at all!
Dental Cleanings and Checkups in Anderson, SC
To schedule your next checkup and teeth cleaning, or if you have questions for our team, we look forward to hearing from you today. Our team is happy to work with CareCredit financing for your dental treatment.