Dental Cleanings and Exams
When you visit your Las Vegas dentist regularly for a dental cleaning and check-up exam, you take a proactive step to maintain excellent oral health. Not only is this essential for the well-being of your teeth, but it is also important for your overall health. To ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy, the American Dental Association highly recommends that you see a dentist twice a year (every six months).
The Benefits of Having Regular Dental Cleanings and Exams
While routine brushing and flossing can help to keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy, a comprehensive cleaning and exam is essential if you want excellent oral fitness. Each time you visit your Las Vegas dentist for your semi-annual cleaning and exam, you receive the following benefits:
- You help to prevent unnecessary tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other related issues including bad breath and bone loss.
- You avoid costly dental procedures, saving you money and time.
- You help to maintain the whiteness of your teeth since dental cleaning reduces the severity of tooth staining.
- You keep the condition of your teeth and smile steady.
What Is Involved with Professional Dental Exam?
In general, a dental exam consists of the cleaning and examination. The cleaning of your teeth typically involves the removal of plaque, brushing, and flossing. The examination itself is usually a combination of visual inspection and x-rays if needed. Most dental insurance only pays for one set of x-rays a year, so your exam may not involve them unless your teeth are due for them or your dentist suspects a problem.
The hygienist takes notice of any possible issues during the cleaning, informing your dentist of anything she finds. You will also be asked if you are experiencing any problematic issues.
What Is Involved with Professional Dental Cleanings?
An experienced dental hygienist initially cleans your teeth by removing any accumulated plaque or tartar using specialized equipment. This is a manual process during which you should feel some scraping of the teeth in order to remove these accumulations. Depending on the health of your gums and the depth to which the hygienist must go to remove all of the plaque and tartar, your gums might bleed. The unhealthier your gums are, the more they will bleed during this process. However, if you have been keeping up with proper brushing and flossing, you may not experience any bleeding at all, especially if your teeth have not accumulated any plaque or tartar.
Once the hygienist is finished with this process, she moves onto the next stage of cleaning your teeth. Using a motorized brushing system and toothpaste, your hygienist will clean your teeth thoroughly. Once this process is finished, your teeth will be flossed. If you have an existing bridge, flossing also occurs beneath the bridge.
