When you think about a dental hygiene or “dental cleaning” appointment, you might imagine sitting in the dental chair while the hygienist cleans your teeth and tells you that you need to floss more. But there is much more that happens during a routine dental visit outside of the “cleaning portion”.
It Starts with Your Overall Health
Your visit will start with a review of your medical history and any changes to your overall health with one of our dental hygienists. Certain medications, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors can impact your oral health. Your hygienist may also ask whether you’ve noticed any changes yourself, such as tooth sensitivity, bleeding gums, jaw discomfort, or any other changes in your mouth. They will share these concerns with the dentist.
A Closer Look at Your Teeth
One of our dentists, Dr. Mark Olivito or Dr. Jillian Faraci, will examine each of your teeth for signs of decay, cracks, wear, or broken fillings. Your jaw and any signs of tooth grinding will also be assessed. Sometimes a problem can be developing that doesn’t cause any pain or symptoms at all! Finding these issues early often means simpler and less costly treatment and can help prevent a small problem from becoming a much larger one.
Checking Your Gums
Healthy teeth are only part of a healthy mouth. Your dental hygienist will assess your gums for any signs of gum disease by measuring the spaces around each tooth. Bleeding gums, bad breath, gum recession, or loose teeth can be signs of gum disease. Regular monitoring allows us to identify these issues and recommend the appropriate treatment. We will also look at the soft tissues of your mouth and complete an oral cancer screening. We are looking for anything unusual that may need further investigation.
Are X-Rays Necessary?
Dental X-rays aren’t required at every visit. One of our dentists will prescribe any needed x-rays prior to your appointment. They will consider your individual risk factors, dental history, age, and previous X-rays when deciding whether updated x-rays are needed. Every patient’s chart is reviewed before their scheduled appointment to ensure we are prepared and ready. Your appointment is reserved exclusively for you!
X-rays can reveal things that aren’t visible during a visual examination, including decay between teeth, infections, bone levels, and developing dental problems. They also allow us to assess impacted wisdom teeth and the health of dental implants.
A Conversation, Not Just an Examination
We want to know what is important to you – whether that is preventing problems, improving your smile, managing your sensitivity, or simply just keeping your teeth healthy. We can then recommend preventative or needed treatment based on your individual needs, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Prevention Is the Goal
The best dental treatment is prevention! Routine visits allow our dental team to monitor your oral health, identify problems early, and help you make informed decisions about your oral care. We have a skilled team of Registered Dental Hygienists that work closely with our dentists to provide you with excellent care. We are always accepting new patients and are happy to provide the same high-quality care to everyone.
We can’t wait to meet you!
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