Oral Exams & Cleanings
Dental commercials never fail to reiterate to you the importance of visiting your dentist as regularly as possible. If you are maintaining brilliant care of your oral cavity at home, why do you need to wait long in appointment queues to see your dentist? While you may be routinely brushing, flossing, and even using the occasional mouthwash, you may still be missing various aspects of your mouth that you may not be able to readily see. Dental exams are the crux to maintaining a healthy mouth as your dentist evaluates your mouth for anomalies that may not have come to your attention!
Why are regular oral exams done?
Regular dental exams are a pivotal part of preventive dental care. During a dental exam, your dentist will assess your mouth for any anomalies including common dental ailments like tooth decay or critical dental maladies like oral cancer. The exam will include the complete evaluation of your face, neck, and mouth regions. An oral exam may also involve x-rays or radiographs to visualize oral structures that may be invisible or within obstructive view of the naked eye.
A noteworthy inclusion of the oral exam is the allotment of oral hygiene instructions. Your dentist will build a treatment plan that is tailor-made to fit your unique oral hygiene habits and requirements and design a personalized oral prophylaxis program best suited for you. They might also demonstrate brushing and flossing techniques and shed light on other sections of life like diet and exercise. Oral exams are usually done in conjunction with dental cleanings to preserve the oral hygiene and integrity of the mouth and all its valuable structures.
When should you have an oral exam?
The American Dental Association urges all individuals to visit the dentist at least twice a year in six-month intervals to get full-mouth evaluation. Irrespective of whether you have teeth or not, it is important for you to continue scheduling appointments for dental exams. Dentists help not only maintain your oral health but also address other dental abnormalities in your mouth with swift action.
What can you expect from an oral exam?
Biannual oral examinations and teeth cleaning are substantial to maintain your oral as well as overall health. Since gum disease has been associated with acute diseases of the heart, lungs, kidney, and other major organs, dental health is of utmost importance for you to maintain a standard quality of life.
During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will:
- Document oral health
A dental exam is the first step for your dentist to evaluate and treat your oral health. They are likely to jot down any of the mishaps in your mouth and will address each dental ailment that is complicating your oral health. For every dental injury or disease, your dentist will design a special treatment plan for you to keep up the good health and hygiene for your mouth.
For instance, if you have been diagnosed with tooth decay and gum disease, you are likely to receive parallel treatment modules for both dental ailments. Tooth decay can be corrected or restored with the help of tooth fillings whereas gum disease may require a longer treatment plan, sometimes even involving surgery depending on the progression and severity of the disease.
- Eliminate tartar, plaque, and food debris
Teeth cleanings are customary accessory tasks associated with oral exams. Your mouth is, at one time, ridden with over 500 different variations of microorganisms. With fluctuations in the level of these microbes in the mouth, your oral health also sees drastic changes. Plaque is a biofilm of bacteria that gets accumulated on the surfaces of the teeth and below the gumline following food consumption. If you fail to cleanse your mouth after a meal, these bacterial agents begin to release acids and further perpetuate gum disease and tooth decay.
Oral exams are important because they guarantee better oral health. Your dentist will use ultrasonic devices to clean the teeth and smoothen your teeth roots, in a procedure collectively known as scaling and root planing. This procedure helps rid your mouth of bad bacteria and tartar whole also smoothening your roots to prevent the future deposition of bacteria in these hotspots.
- Polish your teeth
If you are an advent coffee or tea drinker or happen to indulge in a smoke or two every day, you will notice your teeth yellowing or staining over time. These black-brown or yellowish staining or discoloration of the teeth cannot be removed by ordinary dental hygiene regimens such as brushing but will require professional intervention. With regular oral exams and professional dental cleaning, your dentist will clean your teeth to fit your desired needs and aesthetic expectations.
If you have been dealing with yellowing teeth or an unappealing smile, visiting a dentist for an oral exam may be a smart move to turn your teeth pristine and your smile bright.
- Offer personalized oral hygiene instructions
Oral hygiene may make or break your beautiful smile. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day should be ingrained in your routine oral hygiene practices. But do you know what else you can do for great oral health? Your dentist does! With respect to your needs, your dentist will customize a plan that suits your abilities and needs. They will prescribe you proper oral hygiene instructions that will be most helpful and appropriate for you!
X-rays, oral cancer screenings, and oral habit cessation (such as for smoking) programs can also be availed of at your dentist’s office. Proper oral health is the key to maintain your overall health. Facetious attention to your oral health can lead you to the depths of dental suffering. Taking proper care of your mouth can help fight off bacteria and diseases while also keeping away other dental ailments. Book your appointment today and say goodbye to bad teeth!