By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
The American Dental Association recommends a dental check-up minimally every six months. Do you know why? Regular dental visits are very important to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
There are two parts of our regular dental check-ups – the examination and the cleaning.
Dental Examination
During the exam, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff will assess many things:
- How your oral health relates to your whole body’s health
- The status of your face, neck, bite, teeth, and gums
- A check of your lymph nodes, saliva, and throat, as well as an oral cancer screening
- The movement of your jaw joints (TMJs) and muscles
- A close look at your dental x-rays
In order to closely screen you for any signs or symptoms of gum disease, special attention is paid to the coloring and firmness of your gums, as well as any signs of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria and if not removed, can harden to become tartar. Unfortunately, tartar can’t be removed with brushing and flossing alone. We also use a special measuring tool to help us measure your gum tissue pocket depths. The measurements clue us into your gum health: shallow pockets mean healthy gums, but deeper pockets often need special attention and treatment for gum disease.
As we thoroughly inspect your teeth, we look for loose and broken teeth, cracked teeth, worn or chipped teeth, damaged fillings, and visual evidence of tooth decay.
Our final examination assessments include close inspection of how your teeth, muscles, and joints all fit together, as well as any tissue inside or outside the mouth that looks out of the ordinary.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Another important aspect of your dental check-up at Eggert Family Dentistry is the care taken by April and Joanna, our wonderful hygienists, during your professional dental cleaning. They will:
- Scale your teeth (removing plaque and tartar to reduce inflammation-causing bacteria)
- Polish your teeth (removing surface stains)
- Floss between your teeth
- Review how to properly brush and floss
- Introduce any additional tools you can add into your oral hygiene routine at home, like a rubber tip or proxy brush
We want to help you do what’s best for your oral health. By following good oral hygiene practices and a good diet at home, and by seeing us regularly at Eggert Family Dentistry, we can help you fulfill our mission of “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles.” Give us a call today to schedule your teeth for some spring cleaning!