Why Is It Important To Have Regular Dental Exams And Cleanings?
Getting dental exams and cleanings near you is essential for your overall health and well-being. Dental exams help detect signs of oral cancer, periodontal disease, and other issues that may be causing you pain. They also help identify problems such as tooth decay and gum disease so you can take steps toward preventing them in the future.
Your dentist will check your bite, gums, bone structure, and teeth for signs of gum disease. This is a critical step because it determines whether your gums have receded enough to allow bacteria to cause damage to the underlying bone. Your dentist will also examine your teeth for cavities, decay, or other issues affecting your health.
What Happens During Dental Exams and Cleanings?
During a dental exam, your dentist in Seattle, WA, will:
- Examine your teeth for decay or cavities
- Check for gum disease.
- Evaluate your bite.
- Take x-rays of your teeth and mouth.
After the exam, your dentist will discuss any findings with you and develop a treatment plan, if necessary. A cleaning (also called a prophylaxis) is typically done at the same time as the exam. The dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. They will also polish your teeth and floss them.
Why Are Dental Exams and Cleanings Important?
Getting dental cleanings near you offers great benefits like:
- Prevent dental problems
Regular dental exams and cleanings help to prevent problems such as cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues before they become more serious. They also help to keep your teeth looking their best by removing plaque buildup that can cause discoloration and bad breath. By getting regular exams and cleanings, you can protect your teeth from damage and keep them healthy for years to come.
- Save the teeth from extraction.
Dental exams and cleanings also save the teeth from extraction because they catch decay that would otherwise be too advanced for your dentist to see.
If you’re having regular dental exams and cleanings, you’ll know when it’s time for a checkup so that you don’t have any surprises at the doctor’s office or hospital emergency room when something goes wrong with one of your teeth.
- Detect problems early
Regular dental exams and cleanings are a great way to prevent problems. If your dentist finds that you have any issues, they will be able to address them before they become major problems that require expensive surgeries and painful procedures.
- Avoid costly treatments
Regular dental examinations can help you avoid costly treatments as well. Many people who need an extraction or other procedure because their teeth have become damaged from decay will be surprised at how much money they could have saved by having regular checkups with their dentist over the course of years—and even decades. That’s because many health issues go undetected until they start causing pain or discomfort in someone’s life.
- You will get education on dental hygiene.
Not only do they allow your dentist to identify any potential issues, but they also provide an opportunity to learn more about dental hygiene. During the exam, your dentist can advise you on how to best care for your teeth and gums. They may also recommend products that help keep your mouth in top condition. Furthermore, regular exams and cleanings can prevent more serious problems from developing.
- Treats bad breath
Bacteria in the mouth cause bad breath. Plaque or sticky material that forms on your teeth can trap these bacteria and cause them to multiply. When you brush your teeth with toothpaste, you’re removing some of this plaque from your hard-to-reach areas—but it won’t eliminate all of it.
Regular cleaning will remove tartar buildup from between teeth and around back molars (the front lower jaw). This can prevent cavities and bad breath from forming later down the road.
Schedule an Appointment
Regular exams keep your teeth healthy, which can help prevent serious problems in the future, such as decay, abscesses, and extraction surgeries. Also, learning how to brush your teeth properly and floss regularly will save you from having to go through painful procedures later down the road. Visit 3rd & Columbia Dental for assistance.