How Dental Exams and Cleanings Can Do Wonders for Your Smile

It is a known fact that teeth have the strongest substance in the body – enamel. Your pearly whites were designed to last a lifetime. But, for many people, after a couple of decades, they have broken or missing teeth.

Contrary to popular belief, your oral health doesn’t just affect your teeth but also your overall health. One of the excellent ways of ensuring that your oral health is on track is by having a dental exam and cleaning in Delta, BC.

As you go to Delta dentistry for teeth cleaning and exam, let not “horror stories” cloud your judgment. For most people, dental exam and cleaning in Delta, BC, is painless and straightforward.

Overview

When was the last time you visited our dentist for professional cleaning? You must visit our dentist at least twice a year.

Professional cleaning does much more than brighten your smile. Regular dental exams and cleanings are an essential part of preventive oral care.

In a nutshell, a typical dental exam will involve cleaning your teeth and checking for gum disease or cavities. Our dentist will also evaluate whether you are at risk of developing other oral issues. Do not be shocked when X-rays and other diagnostic procedures are done.

You will also be educated on excellent oral habits, which might include proper brushing and flossing techniques. Other discussions might revolve around lifestyle habits that can affect your oral health.

What Do Dental Exams Assess?

For most people, a summary of a dental exam might be to check for cavities only. But, an exam is much more than checking for cavities. A typical exam will encompass the following:

• Looking for signs of gum disease
• Evaluating the gums
• Assessing the tissue in the oral cavity
• Looking for loose teeth
• Examining the health of your tongue
• Inspecting dental appliances if you have any
• Taking digital X-rays
• Measuring your occlusion (bite)
• Checking if you have any broken teeth

Judging from the list above, you can see that dental exams are much more than checking for cavities. You can also expect our dentist to check for evidence of tooth grinding or if you have issues with the joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw (temporomandibular joint).

Our dentist can also examine your lymph glands, neck, palate, and soft tissues of the oral cavity for signs of oral cancer or infection. Since oral cancer symptoms typically show after the disease has progressed, a dental exam can aid in early detection, which can help improve the chances of curing the disease.

What to Expect During a Typical Cleaning

During a dental cleaning, you can expect the following:

• Most probably, our dentist and dental hygienist will see you and perform an oral exam of teeth and gums.
• After the assessment, professional cleaning will commence. Our dentist or hygienist will remove tartar or plaque, which builds on teeth. If some people have gingivitis, then deep cleaning will be done above and below the gum line.
• Our dentist will polish your teeth after cleaning them using an abrasive substance and fluoride to remove stains and tartar from the surface of the teeth.
• You will receive additional information concerning how you are to clean your teeth daily.
• If there any problems that will be discovered during the dental exam, our dentist will make recommendations on the best possible options or steps.

What You Should Do Between Visits

Typically, you will visit our dentist twice a year, so that means in between the visits, you have to continue with proper oral habits. Here are some of them:

• Floss daily
• Brush twice daily with a toothpaste that has fluoride
• Eat nutrient-rich foods
• Reduce your sugar intake

Benefits of Dental Cleanings

Here are some of the benefits of professional dental cleaning and exam:

• You are assured that the stains that discolor the teeth can be completely removed
• Professional cleaning can prevent gingivitis (gum disease)
• Help with early detection of oral cancer which can increase your chances of beating the disease
• You can help reduce the chances of getting cardiovascular disease since there is a connection it has with gum disease.
• During a cleaning, our dentist can easily detect early signs of issues like fractures and broken fillings.

It is easy to monitor your progress if you have regular visits to our dentist. Many issues can be detected early and can be rectified. You can contact our dentist at Precision Dentistry if you need a dental exam and cleaning in Delta, BC, and we will take excellent care of your teeth.