When you have a dental exam, this is a chance for our team to take a close look at your smile. A checkup helps you maintain good oral health and avoid major issues like tooth decay and gum disease. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist talks about what to expect from an exam, and why you need a checkup twice a year!
The Purpose of a Checkup
Why do we want to see you every six months for a checkup? Well, serious oral health issues like cavities, gingivitis, and even periodontal disease take several months to form. A routine exam every six months means a chance to catch these issues early and prevent them from growing more severe. We could even reverse them with minor treatments. For children, we also make sure that teeth are erupting and falling out properly, and that their smiles and jaws are growing and developing as they should. This routine visit lets us enjoy good oral health.
What Happens During a Dental Exam?
During the exam, you will sit down in a chair and we will ask you about your dental hygiene habits and how you care for your smile. We then use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to obtain clear and detailed pictures of your smile. This enables us to provide an accurate and precise diagnosis. Our team will watch for tooth decay, dental infections, gingivitis, and gum disease. We also look for the early signs of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding), and also screen for oral cancer. In addition to creating a treatment plan to address the issues we discover; we can also discuss better homecare habits too.
Taking Time to Clean Your Teeth
During the same visit, our team will also conduct a dental cleaning too. The cleaning procedure involves our team gently and thoroughly removing all plaque and tartar from the outside of the teeth. We then polish the smile for a more attractive appearance. This helps fight major oral health issues, and keeps the smile healthy and strong. Again, this benefits kids two and older, as well as teens and adults. If you haven’t scheduled a visit lately, consider making an appointment today. Summer is a great time to handle all of your family’s oral health needs. If you have any questions or concerns about our exams, then contact our team today to learn more. Let’s make this the summer of good oral health!
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST ABOUT DENTAL CHECKUPS
We would like to help people of all ages in our community enjoy better oral health with preventive dentistry. If you would like to undergo a dental exam soon, then contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.