Dental Exams and Professional Cleanings: The Basics Are Crucial

You should never take a normal dental visit for granted. In fact, at Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, we feel that general dentistry is the backbone of great dental health and wellness. At your regular dental visit, your dentist will perform a number of procedures that will improve your dental health and help prevent future problems before they arise or before they become worse.

Indeed, regular checkups are of the utmost importance to everyone who visits the practice, and we always take them seriously. Let's go over what happens during most regular checkups with your dentist.

X-rays and Advanced Dental Diagnostics

One of the most important parts of the dental exam is the diagnostic portion of the visit. This allows your dentist to take dental x-rays and other scans of your teeth, jaw, and gums. By looking at these dental x-rays, your dentist can identify problems that may not be readily apparent, such as tooth decay below the gumline or structural issues that affect the jawbone or the jaw joint.

Professional Cleanings for the Hard-to-Reach Places

The professional cleaning is another important part of the regular exam. During this portion of the visit, your dentist or a dental hygienist will carefully floss your teeth and perform a full polish of the teeth with an electric toothbrush. This allows access to all the hard to reach places of your mouth, ensuring plaque is not allowed to remain.

Checking the Teeth and Gums Up Close

After your teeth are professionally cleaned, your dentist will then do a close examination of the teeth and gums. This will allow your dentist to identify tooth decay, gum disease, and anything else that may be the sign of a problem (e.g., sores, lesions). This close and professionally trained attention is something that you cannot give yourself in the bathroom mirror.

Talking About Dental Health Problems and Concerns

If you have any dental health concerns, it's a good idea to bring them up with your dentist during your visit. Say that you have problems with clicking or grinding in your jaw, or perhaps a case of recurring dry mouth, or maybe even chronic bad breath that will not go away. Bringing up issues like these allow your dentist to consider various treatment options and solutions.

Remember: a minor dental problem may be the sign of a bigger issue, so always mention whatever you're going through so it can be examined further.

Providing Tips for Better Dental Health

Your dentist may provide you with tips for improving your dental health and wellness during your visit. This is not out of the ordinary. This may include tips on what toothbrushes might be ideal for you, good toothpastes and mouthwashes, and even some do's and don'ts when it comes to your eating habits.

Planning Future Dental Treatments as Needed

If you require any kind of dental treatment that goes above and beyond basic care, your regular checkup will allow you to learn about your future treatment needs. This covers everything from orthodontics to oral surgery, and it allows you to learn what's ahead and the various risks and benefits involved.

Schedule a Consultation at Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics

To learn more about all of your options for advanced and enhanced dental care, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. At Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, we will make sure that you receive the best possible treatment for your needs.

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