Dental cleanings and regular check-ups should be or become a regular part of your annual dental care to promote healthy teeth and gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends regular dental visits, at intervals determined by a dentist. In light of a new study published in the Journal of Dental Research titled “Patient Stratification for Preventive Care in Dentistry,” the ADA wants to remind consumers that the frequency of their regular dental visits should be tailored by their dentists to accommodate for their current oral health status and health history.
At Distinctive Dentistry, Dr. Klemann recommends that you receive teeth cleanings and regular check-ups at least twice a year. Of course, if you have more issues with your teeth and gums (e.g., cavities, tooth loss, gingivitis, or periodontal disease, for example), she recommends that you receive dental care more frequently.
Dental cleanings are important for good oral hygiene. If you don’t have good oral hygiene, bacteria can build up in your mouth and cause dental problems such as gingivitis, dental caries, staining, and even dental abscess. Moreover, the important point to note is that dental cleaning does not only include your regular brushing and flossing. There is more to it. Although self-cleaning is vital, paying visits to your dentist for regular check-ups carries a great value too. This, in the long-run, prevents dental diseases.
Good dental hygiene requires following a daily routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Sticking to this kind of routine will remove plaque from your teeth, which is important because if not removed it combines with sugars to form acids that can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
If you have poor dental hygiene and want to improve it, follow these tips:
Most importantly, don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth. Make dental hygiene practices a part of your bedtime routine.
Plaque is the sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. If plaque is not removed with regular brushing and flossing, it hardens to create calculus (tartar). Calculus cannot be removed with a toothbrush and will require a dental professional to remove it during an oral cleaning.
A typical dental check-up has two major parts, history and examination. During your visit, Dr. Klemann will ask you about your recent medical history and examine your mouth.
Your medical history is an important part of assessing your risk of developing oral health conditions (e.g., tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer). Dr. George may ask you questions relating to your lifestyle, such as dietary habits, smoking, alcohol intake, brushing, etc. Furthermore, you will be asked about your past history of dental diseases if any.
Our dental hygienist will clean your teeth, and then Dr. Klemann will conduct a thorough examination of your oral mucosa, teeth, gums, the top and bottom of your mouth, and your neck to look for any signs of infection, cavities, or cancer. Plaque build-up can cause cavities, inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), or red, swollen, bleeding gums that are painful (periodontal disease). If you have any of these dental problems, Dr. Klemann will recommend the appropriate course of treatment.
Usually, x-rays are ordered once a year as part of your routine annual dental check-up. These images help Dr. Klemann see if there are any changes to your teeth over time. For new patients, digital x-rays will be taken of your teeth to establish a new patient file and treatment plan. X-rays may also be ordered for patients who are complaining of toothaches or other dental problems. These images will help Dr. Klemann decide on the appropriate course of treatment.
The purpose of an oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. Dr. Klemann examines your lips, mouth, thyroid and neck and looks for signs of cancer, such as a mass, plaque, or an ulcer in the oral cavity and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
Dr. Klemann will assess the way your teeth fit together and assess whether this is an optimal, harmonious bite or whether something needs to be changed. For this purpose, your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or jaw joint, is also assessed. You will be asked to bite as you normally do and Dr. Klemann will closely look and listen for any clicking or popping sounds. She will also palpate your jaw and check for tenderness.
In using a soft bristle toothbrush, you can gently brush over your gums to remove any plaque build-up. Don’t brush your gums roughly, as this will cause them to bleed and lead to receding gums and sensitive teeth.
Follow these tips to prevent tooth decay:
It is important to have regular dental check-ups every 6 months so your dentist can see if there are any changes to your oral health. This way, if there are any issues, they will be detected early on and it will be easier to address them.
Sometimes it is your dentist who may pick up on other medical issues you might have. Sometimes autoimmune diseases manifest intraorally before anywhere else. There is also a strong correlation between periodontal disease and diabetes. Diabetes is a systemic disease, meaning that it can affect all major systems in your body--even your teeth. If your oral exam shows the beginnings of periodontal disease, you may want to visit your primary care provider for further assessment and diagnosis.
Aside from visiting your dentist twice a year for regular check-ups, you may need to visit your dentist more often if
If you haven’t been to the dentist for a long time, don’t worry about it. We want you to feel at ease when you come here to our practice for dental care. We are not here to judge you or admonish you. We are here to help you.
Initially, we will take digital x-rays of your teeth to assess the condition of your teeth and gums. From there we will develop a treatment plan that will move you on your way to restored oral health. If we determine that you will need a lot of dental work, we can develop a treatment plan that can be spread out over several months.
If you are worried about costs, don’t let that keep you from getting the care you need. Come talk to us.
Call Distinctive Dentistry at (503) 698-4884 to schedule your dental cleanings and regular check-ups. For your convenience, you may also schedule an appointment online.
