Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning

In general, teeth exams are a critical preventative health service that involves dentists and hygienists cleaning and checking your teeth and gums for signs of problems. Some examples include:

• Cavities or dental decay
• Gum disease
• Dental abnormalities
• Oral cancer
• Bone loss

During the teeth exam, we’ll talk to you about your oral hygiene habits and the foods you eat, and our dentist and hygienist will discuss proper brushing and flossing methods. We can even demonstrate how best to perform these tasks. Also, we might review lifestyle factors that may have an impact on your health, such as medications or health issues like diabetes. We can even provide guidance on what you can do to improve your overall health.

In addition, our dentist will order X-rays or other diagnostic tests during your initial visit and when necessary during follow-up visits. These diagnostics allow us to see detailed images of your mouth so that we can accurately diagnose and recommend treatment for problems. Call our office to learn more about what to expect when one of our dentists performs your dental exam in Gainesville.

What Occurs During a Dental Cleaning?

One of the main reasons that patients visit our office is to get professional dental cleanings. However, you might be nervous about getting your teeth cleaned. The scraping sounds and noise that the tools make could cause you to hesitate, but be assured that most dental cleanings are painless and simple.

Regular teeth cleaning is important. Only a dentist or hygienist can remove the calculus and plaque that builds up on your teeth. Plaque can stick to your teeth and turn into calculus if you don’t remove it with brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Then, the calculus will attack the enamel on your teeth, which can cause decay.

Our thorough cleaning will consist of a scaler that removes the plaque around your gum line and between your teeth. We’ll use a small mirror to view difficult places. It’s normal for you to hear a scraping sound, and we’ll focus more on a specific spot if it has more tartar.

When the plaque and tartar are removed, one of our hygienists will brush your teeth with professional toothpaste. It will have a gritty consistency to gently scrub the surface. This step not only removes leftover tartar, but also polishes your teeth. Next, we’ll floss your teeth and may rinse your mouth with fluoride. The last step involves applying a fluoride treatment to protect your teeth from cavities.

Why Is Gum Therapy Necessary?

Aside from destroying tooth enamel and causing cavities, bacteria in your mouth can get into your gums and cause gingivitis. This is the first stage of gum disease, and causes red, bleeding, swollen or sensitive gums during brushing and flossing. If you don’t get treatment, it can develop into periodontal disease, which is a more serious form of the infection and requires periodontal treatment.

Scaling and root planing are the most effective forms of gum disease treatment. They involve cleaning below your gum line, so our dentist will numb your gums and the roots of your teeth during the procedure. First, we’ll scale the tartar and plaque down to your bottom tooth pocket. Next, the root planing will smooth your teeth roots so that your gums can reattach. Find out more during your appointment with our dentist.

Is Treatment for Bad Breath Available?

Bad breath can be embarrassing and rear its stinky head at any time. However, did you know that it’s actually a medical condition called halitosis? In fact, more than 25% of people have this condition, and it’s usually the result of eating certain foods, having cavities or poor oral hygiene.

Fortunately, bad breath management is available at our dental office. During your dental exam, our dentist can tell you about our specialized treatments, cleanings and at-home care guidelines to help you get the problem under control quickly.

Why Is an Oral Cancer Screening Important?

You may be surprised that oral cancer screenings are a regular part of a dental exam. This screening is important because oral cancer is a life-threatening disease. During the early stages, it doesn’t show any obvious symptoms. When you finally detect a lump, the disease has likely spread to other areas of your body. For these reasons, early detection is essential to stop the cancer in its tracks.

Our dental office strongly encourages everyone 18 years and older to be screened for oral cancer. In addition to doing a visual exam, our dentist will feel the tissues in your mouth for abnormalities. Schedule an appointment today for your dental exam in Gainesville.