It's so much more than 'just a cleaning"

Do you ever wonder why the American Dental Association (ADA) , and your dentist, recommend you come in every 6 months? The importance of regular dental visits are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. If you need additional help your dentist may suggest more frequent visits.

What's happening during your visit?

During your appointment your dentist, or hygienist, will evaluate the health of your gums, check for tooth decay,  perform a head and neck exam looking for anything out of the ordinary, your mouth for any signs of oral cancer, as well as check the movement of your lower jaw. Your hygienist will then clean your teeth stressing the importance of maintaining proper at home oral hygiene. They will pay close attention to plaque and tartar. These two things build up very quickly between visits if good oral, at home, hygiene is not practiced. If the plaque and tartar are not removed it can harden on teeth, irritate the gums and lead to gum disease.  They will work to remove the stains from food, beverages, as well as tobacco.  

There are several routine parts to a dental exam including:

Head and Neck Exam

• face
• neck
• lymph nodes
• lower jaw joints (TMJs)

Clinical Dental Exam

• oral cancer screening
• examine the gums
• look for signs of gum disease
• loose teeth
• tissue condition inside of mouth
• tongue
• check your bite
• visual evidence of tooth decay
• broken teeth
• damaged fillings
• evaluate any dental appliance 
• contact between teeth
• x-rays

Professional Cleaning

• evaluate the cleanliness of your teeth and gums
• remove any plaque and tarter
• polish your teeth
• Floss between your teeth
• review recommended brushing and flossing techniques 

After your exam and cleaning have been performed any additional treatment recommendations will be made. As you can see, your 6 month routine visits are so much more than "just a cleaning".  By seeing your dentist  for your continuous care visits and by following a good, at home, oral hygiene routine, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come. 

At Glacier Dental we take pride in giving you the tools to have a healthy smile and look forward to building personal relationships with each of our patients. Has it been more than 6 months since we have had the pleasure of serving you? Give us a call today to reserve a time that works best for you, 920.235.3251!