Checkups and Cleanings

This is like a mechanical look under the hood – for your teeth! Your dentist will begin your checkup by updating their knowledge of your medical and oral health since the last time you were seen. Then, a visual look at the teeth, gums and tongue will identify any immediate concerns that should be investigated. Your dentist may use a special light to help them see beneath the surface of your soft tissues – this is where prevention really comes in! Checks like these can identify tissue disorders like cancers far before there are indications on the surface, like a sore that persists without improving.

Dental X-rays will be performed in order to check the health of your jawbone, tooth roots and sockets. Since not all dental problems occur with symptoms, this gives you and your dentist the opportunity to identify any concerns early in their development so that they can be diagnosed and managed before they do unnecessary damage to your teeth and mouth. If you have concerns about having X-rays done, you can rest easy knowing that new digital Xray machines do not have the same output of radiation that used to come with older Xray machines – in fact your exposure will be limited to a fraction of that of older machines.

Once your dentist is satisfied that they’ve checked everything thoroughly, you will have an opportunity to ask questions or discuss any findings before your dental hygienist is alerted that you are ready to begin your cleaning. Cleaning starts with scaling, which manually scrapes the hardened tartar from your teeth. Frequent brushing and flossing combined with a good diet limits the development of plaque and tartar in the mouth, but some amount is to be expected – particularly behind the lower front teeth where saliva enters the mouth through the salival glands.