Your Dental Check-up Should Include a Dental Cleaning; Here’s Why!
It’s better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to the health of your teeth. In the new year, make it your goal to get preventative dental care to protect your pearly whites. It’s one of the simplest resolutions you can make.
Not sure how to proceed? Not sure what preventative dental care actually is? No problem! E-Care Dentistry is here to help. Keep reading to discover the importance of taking care of your teeth and how to do it.
Why Do I Need Preventative Dental Care?
The goal of any preventative medicine is to screen for disease and illness and ensure you are as healthy as possible. You may get an annual physical from your primary care doctor, for example.
Preventative dental care does the very same: check in on your oral health and ensure there are no warning signs of future tooth decay, gum recession, gingivitis, and more.
Just as you’d want to find a major medical issue early on, you want to identify potential oral health problems early, too. Doing so enables you to prevent it from worsening by addressing it through dental care and treatments.
Preventative dental care includes dental check-ups, dental cleanings, and dental X-rays. Each of these individually contribute to painting an accurate picture of your oral health; together, they’re a smart investment.
Dental Check-Ups
During a dental check-up, your dentist or dental hygienist will examine all the surfaces of your teeth, your gums, and your tongue.
Your dentist usually performs an oral cancer screening at this time, as they look for visual signs of disease. They also will palpate your salivary glands and lymph nodes under your jawline to check for inflammation or unexpected shapes and textures.
You should have a dental check-up and examination every six months, according to recommendations from the American Dental Association.
Dental Cleanings
During a dental cleaning, a dental hygienist will carefully scrape away plaque and tartar buildup from your gumline and the surface of your teeth. Then, they will use a gritty toothpaste to polish your teeth. Finally, they will carefully floss between each of your teeth, and then rinse your mouth to get rid of any remaining debris.
Dental cleanings are generally painless and noninvasive. Nonetheless, your dental hygienist may offer you a comfort menu before your cleaning begins, including sunglasses to help filter some of the light from the exam room, comfortable blankets for warmth, or your favorite TV show played on your own private television.
Like dental check-ups, you should receive a dental cleaning every six months – although some dental insurance carriers will cover additional cleanings throughout the year.
Dental X-Rays
Dental technology has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days of having to bite down on sharp-edged bitewings and tabs to hold the equipment in place in your mouth. Today’s dentist offices are equipped with X-ray technology that captures more clear images of your teeth and jaw structures without the discomfort of outdated machines.
Although dental X-rays are not performed as frequently as dental check-ups and cleanings, they’re still an important part of preventative dental care. In fact, dental X-rays embody the whole purpose of preventative care: taking an in-depth look at your oral health to ensure there are no issues that must be addressed or treated.
X-rays can show tooth decay between teeth, decay beneath fillings, changes in the bone or root canal, position of teeth, infection at the root of teeth (called an abscess), cysts, tumors, and bone loss in the jaw.
Adults with generally healthy teeth only need dental X-rays once every two or three years. If you have a higher risk of tooth decay, you may need them annually. Your dentist can advise you on how often you should receive dental X-rays.
Where Can I Get Preventative Dental Care?
The best place to receive preventative dental care is at a local dental office with a staff you trust, dentists dedicated to excellence, and a serene environment. If you live in the greater Kansas City area or in Olathe, Kansas, your best bet is E-Care Dentistry, conveniently located on South Black Bob Road.
E-Care Dentistry is always accepting new patients who are looking to take care of their teeth and seeking a more confident smile. To start your healthy-teeth partnership with E-Care and to meet your new year’s goals, request a dental check-up appointment online, or call us at (913) 357-6833.