How often do you visit your dentist? Many people don’t know realize the importance of visiting their dental professional at least twice a year. The frequency of the visit will increase when patients experience issues with their teeth.

Aside from treating tooth decay, did you know that specialists can also help to prevent it from happening in the first place? Dental exams and professional teeth cleaning are crucial in preventing oral health issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, periodontitis, and other health problems that require costly and extensive procedures to treat.

No Signs of Tooth Decay

You won’t know that you have tooth decay until it hurts so bad that you’re forced to visit your dental expert. By that time, the decay has already damaged your tooth enamel, and it may already have gone through the roots. The symptoms of tooth decay and gum disease won’t be noticeable until it is already in its irreparable state.

There are many areas where the disease attacks, and you won’t be able to see it. This is where specialists use an x-ray to detect the disease and know how the disease has already progressed to your tooth.

Exams Do Wonders in Making Sure You Have a Healthy Smile

Your dentist makes sure that once you leave the office, you are at the peak of your oral health. They don’t just look for signs of cavities or tooth decay, and their exams typically cover the following:

• Check the health of the tissues inside the mouth
• Check the health of the gums
• Inspect for signs of gingivitis or gum disease
• Check for any loose teeth
• Examine the condition of the tongue
• Measure your bite
• Check if there is damage to the fillings
• Inspect the condition of the dental appliance you are wearing and see if it needs adjustments.

Additionally, she will examine your neck, check for lymph glands, palate, or see if you have underlying symptoms of oral cancer.

Treat Cavities Before it Gets Worse

One of the reasons you need to visit is you get professional cleaning and exams every six months. Modern technology allows us to detect cavities at their early stages. In this way, you’ll be able to avoid drilling and losing enamel. Smaller cavities are easily treatable with fillings, but larger ones need more extensive work.

Remove Plaque and Tartar

Plaque and tartar sticks to your teeth like glue. You cannot get rid of it with simple brushing alone. That is why you’ll need the help of a professional. She will use professional-grade tools to prevent the accumulation of plaque. If plaque is left untreated, it turns into tartar, which will be a lot harder to remove, and it could irritate the gums.

Why is Professional Cleaning Important

Getting a thorough cleaning of your teeth and gums is one of the reasons you may want to visit us twice a year. This ensures that you won’t experience preventable diseases such as gingivitis, periodontist, and tooth decay. If you have a pre-existing condition, a more in-depth type of cleaning is needed to make sure the disease won’t relapse.

Here’s what you’ll expect in a professional cleaning procedure:

1. Check the cleanliness of your teeth and gums.
2. Get rid of the plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth.
3. Floss in between the teeth to make sure no plaque remains.
4. Polish the teeth to make sure it’s shiny and bright.
5. Apply fluoride toothpaste to protect your tooth enamel against decay.
6. Before you leave the office, you’ll be educated about proper oral hygiene methods.

Looking for a dentist? Highland Oak Dental is one of the best in the area.

Contact Us to schedule an appointment.