The Importance of Regular Dental Appointments
Of course, dental exams are important for your oral health but did you know your oral health can affect other aspects of you overall health? Adults should have regular dental exams every four to six months to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
While daily brushing and flossing are important for oral health, it should not take the place of regular visits to the dentist. Brushing and flossing will not remove plaque that accumulates in areas that your toothbrush just can’t reach. Dentists and dental hygienists are trained to use special dental tools to remove plaque build-up your toothbrush misses.
It’s time for your dental exam
It’s time for your regular dental exam, what should you expect? At least once a year, the dentist will order x-rays to check for decay or other oral issues. X-rays are taken a portion of the mouth at a time. In addition to traditional bite-wing x-rays the dentist may request a panoramic x-ray. Panoramic x-rays are a two-dimensional x-ray of the entire mouth, jaw, and surrounding tissue.
Regular dental appointments consist of a dental exam and cleaning of the teeth. Cleaning is necessary to remove as much of the build-up of plaque and tartar along and below the gum line as possible. The dentist or hygienist will use a scraping tool to remove the build-up and a mister to rinse and wash it away. After the plaque and tartar build-up is removed the dentist will usually polish the teeth with a special cleaning compound and brush. Then they will usually treat the teeth with fluoride to protect them from decay.
What do fluoride treatments do?
Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay. Dentists apply a fluoride treatment to make the teeth more resistant to the acids found in plaque bacteria and the affects of sugar on the teeth. Fluoride can be applied as a varnish, gel, or foam. Fluoride varnishes are painted on the teeth, gels may be applied via a mouth guard or be painted on the teeth, and fluoride foam is put in a mouth guard and applied to the teeth for up to four minutes.
If the dentist finds any problems while looking at the X-rays or while examining the teeth, you will be asked to make an appointment for another dental visit to fill the cavity or for another procedure.
After your appointment
If you get a clean bill of oral health or after any issues are taken care of, you should not have to visit the dentist for four to six months. To keep your mouth healthy, it is important to brush and floss your teeth twice a day. And if your dentist recommends it, rinse your mouth daily with a fluoride rinse.