When was the last time you saw the dentist for a dental checkup? A simple exam and cleaning visit may seem minor, but this is absolutely essential for protecting smiles of all ages. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about helping safeguard your smile with a routine dental exam visit.
The Dental Checkup Process
Let’s talk about your dental exam. When you arrive for a checkup, we will take a close look at your teeth and gums, as well as your jaw and oral structures, with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. These imaging systems ensure we obtain a diagnosis with precision, and that we can treat these problems in their early stages, hopefully starting treatment before you even experience discomfort. Our team will look for concerns like tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding), and even screen for oral cancer. For kids, we make sure baby teeth erupt and fall out on schedule, and look for decay as well.
Conducting a Dental Cleaning
In the same visit, we will conduct a dental cleaning visit. While brushing and flossing help limit the buildup of plaque and tartar, only a cleaning can completely remove these layers from your teeth. Doing so helps lower the risk of not only cavities and infections, but also gingivitis and gum disease. This helps limit bad breath and teeth stains too! To ensure we clean your teeth thoroughly, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device.
Ultrasonic Scaling
The ultrasonic scaling device emits gentle vibrations to help remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth. We then extract stubborn portions with a pick, and will polish the teeth to help limit future buildup and brighten the smile. The same tool can be used in a deep cleaning too, which we offer for people with gingivitis and the early stages of gum disease. This removed buildup from the teeth, exposed roots, and from beneath the guy line, managing the disease so you avoid later stages linked to adult tooth loss. The process is more involved so we will numb your teeth beforehand, and this could take more than one visit.
If you have any questions about our checkups and cleanings, or if you would like to schedule once for yourself or a member of your family, then reach out to our team today to learn more and start the process. We want to help you enjoy your best smile!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. Provides Comprehensive Dentistry
We want to help treat your smile and maintain good oral health with routine checkups and cleanings. To find out more about our preventive treatment options, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
