Exam & Cleaning
A comprehensive dental exam and x rays are crucial for oral health, and will be performed by your dentists at your initial visit and recall visits (every 6 months). Comprehensive dental exam include Diagnostic X-rays (to check for decay, abscess, fractures, tumors, cysts, bone loss, jaw or TMJ, alignment of teeth, etc), Oral cancer screening (to check the face, lips, tongue, cheek, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.), Gum disease evaluation (to check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease), Examination of tooth decay (all tooth surfaces will be checked for decay ), Examination of existing restorations to check conditions of current fillings, veneers, crowns and bridges, implants, dentures, etc).
Professional dental cleaning, also called dental prophylaxis, is the most basic and important part of oral health maintenance, and will be performed by your dentists or hygienists, recommended every 6 months.
Dental cleaning usually takes less than 30 minutes (time varies depending on how much “build up” each patient has), and it is necessary to remove plaque, calculus, and tartar around teeth and gum areas. Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth even with brushing, flossing, and rinsing at home. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins that can inflame the gums and bones around teeth. Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms both above and below the gum line, and it may cause damage to gums, bone, and even other parts of body such as the blood vessels and heart. They can only be removed with special dental instruments such as an ultrasonic cavitron and dental scalers.
After each cleaning, teeth “polishing” is completed in order to remove any remaining stains/plaques, and create a clean and smooth teeth surface.
