Dental Exams and Cleanings: Benefits, Preparation, and Expectations

You can now access dental exams and dental cleanings at a dentist near you, thanks to advancements in the field of preventive dentistry. During a dental examination, your dentist or hygienist first cleans your teeth before proceeding to check for gum disease and cavities. During this exam, the dentist also assesses your risk of developing other oral issues and checks your neck, mouth, and face for abnormalities. In some cases, diagnostic procedures such as X-rays and MRIs may also be performed.

Dental exams are also a good time for your dentist to discuss your dental hygiene practices and diet. They might go ahead to even guide you on how to brush and floss properly. In addition, your dentist could talk about lifestyle factors that have an impact on your oral health. They may also suggest your teeth be cosmetically improved.

Benefits of Dental Exams

Besides helping your Harbord dentist detect early signs of gum disease, dental exams come with loads of advantages:

• Systemic Diseases: These include rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and lupus. Early signs of these diseases are first seen in your mouth, so dental exams provide a perfect opportunity for your dentist to detect them. This way, you are send to a doctor before your condition becomes full-blown.
• Oral Care Tips: Dental exams are the best chance for the dentist to provide oral care tips and detect any dental issues you may have before they progress and require expensive and extensive treatment.
• Oral Cancer: Most people that have been diagnosed with cancer first got these news in the dental chair. When detected in its early stages, the chances of eliminating the disease are higher.
• Multiple Conditions: During your bi-annual visits, your dentist also checks for halitosis–a condition characterized by bad breath. The cause could be diabetes, lung problems, or oral yeast infection.

When Should You Have Dental Exams?

According to the American Dental Association, your dentist is supposed to determine your exams’ intervals. Those who have lost their natural teeth aren’t exempted from these regular visits as exams help them maintain their oral health and usefulness of their replacement teeth.

Preparing For A Dental Exam

Dental exams require no special preparation. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your next appointment:

• Check to ensure your insurance provider covers dental exams & cleanings in Toronto, ON.
• Let your hygienist know beforehand if you may need anesthesia to keep you calm
• Arrive at the dental clinic on time.

What to Expect During A Dental Exam

Knowing what will go down in the dentist’s office helps reduce your anxiety and make you more comfortable during the procedure. Below is the general procedure of a routine exam:

• A Look at your Medical History

Before your dentist begins the exam, they will ask some questions to understand your oral health better. You will, therefore, be asked if you are currently on any medications or healing remedies. The dentist may also require you to reveal any smoking and drug use practices and also allergies.

If you are receiving treatment for any medical problems, your dentist will note this too. After you have given all this information, you may be asked about dental procedures you have had in the past. The doctor might also want to know how you react to anesthesia. This is the first and most crucial step, and it helps your dentist come up with a treatment plan that best suits you.

• Investigations

Now that your dentist has all the information they need, it is time to thoroughly investigate your gums, jaw, teeth, and supporting structures. Expect dental x-rays and oral cancer screening. The x-rays enable a detailed view of some sections of your oral cavity that may not be visible to the naked eye. Oral cancer screening, on the other hand, helps detect early signs of cancer before it advances.

• Cleanings

Before the cleaning starts, your dental hygienist checks for signs of any oral health issues such as gingivitis. When the coast is clear, it is time to remove the plaque and tartar buildup–a process called teeth scaling. Now that your teeth are tartar-free, your hygienist uses an electric brush to deep clear them any get rid of any tartar remains. Next is expert flossing and then rinsing. When all is done, fluoride treatment is applied to your teeth to keep them cavity-free.