Teeth cleaning and exam is a very crucial part of preventive dentistry when it comes to taking care of your oral health. Most patients usually ask what exactly is the difference between a dental cleaning and exam and whether it is necessary to undergo both procedures. Although they are both included in regular dental treatment, they play different roles in maintaining your gums and teeth healthy.
At Enclave Dental, we support the essence of teeth cleaning and exams as an overall preventive dentistry procedure. Knowing the difference and the individual strengths of the two, you will be in a position to make informed choices on how you want your oral health to be treated and as a result be in a position of enjoying the best of oral health.
What is Teeth Cleaning?
Teeth cleaning, or prophylaxis is a procedure to remove plaque, tartar and stain on your teeth. This is usually carried out by a dental hygienist and is significant in keeping good teeth and gums. Although brushing and flossing at home can help in the minimization of plaque buildup, teeth cleaning can remove the plaque better, and this is very hard to do at home.
At a dental cleaning and examination visit, the dental hygienist will also employ special instruments to eliminate the presence of plaque and tartar on the surface of your teeth and in inaccessible regions, including the gumline. This procedure is used to prevent cavities, gum disease and other dental problems that can progress with time.
Key Steps in Teeth Cleaning
- Scaling: A scaler is a tool that is used by the hygienist to eliminate the presence of plaque and tartar on the surfaces of your teeth and under your gum line.
- Polishing: This follows scaling, where the teeth are polished with a special paste to clean any residual plaque and stains, which results in smooth, shiny teeth.
- Flossing: This is carried out by the hygienist, who will floss between the teeth to make sure that any left-over debris is cleaned up.
The advised cleaning of the teeth should be done regularly after every six months, though there are some patients with certain particular dental issues who may be required to visit the clinic frequently.
What is a Dental Exam?
A dental examination or checkup is a complete test of your dental health by your dentist in Lake Mary FL. At a dental cleaning and exam appointment, your dentist will check your teeth, gums, and mouth to determine whether there is a possibility of a problem, like cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other oral health problems.
The examination of teeth includes a lot more than the visual examination of the teeth. During the visit, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums using a number of tools and techniques in order to calculate the extent of damage and whether you need any additional help. A dental exam is usually combined with a teeth cleaning procedure since the two processes are complementary.
Key Steps in a Dental Exam
- Visual Inspection: The dentist will look at your teeth to check whether there are signs of decay, or cracks, among other obvious problems. They will also examine your gums to see whether it has gum diseases like inflammation or bleeding.
- X-rays: The dentist might perform X-rays in order to have a closer look at your teeth and jawbone in certain situations. This aids in detecting problems that cannot be seen in a visual examination, e.g., cavities between or under the gum line.
- Oral Cancer Screening: This is when your dentist will inspect the soft tissues in your throat, mouth and neck to detect signs of oral cancer.
- Check of Bite and Jaw Alignment: Your dentist will examine the way your teeth fit together and see whether you have any bite or jaw alignment issues.
Usually, a dental exam takes place once a year, but after the examination, the oral health of patients determines the frequency of examinations.
The Role of Preventive Dentistry in Oral Health
The teeth cleaning and exams are very essential parts of preventive dentistry, which aims at ensuring that dental issues do not occur. Preventive care can assist in ensuring that you have healthy teeth and gums and the chances of developing more severe oral problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss are minimized.
The main aim of preventive dentistry is to detect the problems at an earlier stage before they become more difficult and expensive to address. Through the scheduling of teeth cleaning and exams, you are actually taking the initiative of ensuring your oral health remains intact, and in future, you will not be forced to have more surgical procedures.
Benefits of Preventive Dentistry
- Prevention of Problems: Dental exams or checkups can detect dental problems earlier and in their initial stages, whereby they can be treated at an early age and at a lower cost.
- Maintaining Natural Teeth: Preventive procedures will help to maintain the health of your teeth and gums, and help limit the number of restorative procedures like fillings, crowns and root canal treatment.
- Better General Health: It has been found that there is a relationship between oral health and general health. When you have good oral hygiene, you will be able to limit the chances of getting other health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Regular visits to your dentist for teeth cleaning and examination is the best action you can take to make sure you have a healthy and beautiful smile.
How Often Should You Have Teeth Cleaning and Exams?
The frequency of teeth cleaning and exams is based on your personal requirements. The average recommendation is to go to a dentist every six months to have teeth cleaned and examined. Of course, some people might have to come more often, depending on such factors as:
- High Cavity Risk: In case you have a history of getting cavities or simply are more susceptible to them, your dentist will periodically order you to have your teeth cleaned.
- Gum Disease: Patients affected with gum disease might require dental cleaning and exams done more often to control the disease and to ensure that it does not get worse.
- Orthodontic Treatment: In case you have braces or any other dental aid, your dentist would require more frequent visits to see that your dental health is not compromised by the treatment.
- Medical Conditions: Some of these medical conditions pose an increased risk of oral health complications due to their nature, and may necessitate more dental check-ups. These conditions include diabetes.
Your dentist in Lake Mary FL, Dr. Shah will help you develop an individualized schedule that suits your oral health.
The Importance of Regular Dental Exams
Although cleaning of teeth is a significant process in oral health care, the dental examination is also extremely vital. An oral assessment can identify the conditions that cannot be detected at first view, like the cavities between the teeth or under the gums.
With regular checkups, your dentist is able to detect possible issues early and treat them before they develop into something worse. Routine checkups will also give your dentist a chance to revise your treatment plan, monitor your progress with any medical prescriptions you may be undergoing and keep your teeth in good condition.
Why Both Teeth Cleaning and Exams Are Essential
Dental cleaning and exams are an absolute part of a comprehensive oral healthcare program. The process of cleaning teeth eliminates the build-up of plaque, tartar, and discoloration, whereas the dental examination will assist in identifying the problem before it reaches the advanced stages. All of these processes are aimed at maintaining healthy teeth and gums so that you do not have to spend more money on even more invasive procedures in the future.
Enclave Dental is devoted to offering you a complete set of preventive dentistry services that can help you to be in the best possible oral health. Whether it is the time of your usual teeth cleaning and exam, or you have certain concerns, our team is ready to assist. Call Enclave Dental today or make an appointment, and we will make sure that your smile stays bright and healthy for several years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I get my teeth cleaned?
Mostly, one should go to the dentist every six months to clean their teeth. Nonetheless, your dentist might advise you to get the teeth cleaned more often, especially in case you have particular dental complications or an increased chance of caries or gingivitis.
Does gum cleaning hurt?
Cleaning the teeth is normally a painless process although in case you have sensitive gums or plaque areas, you could feel a slight pain. Inform your dentist or hygienist and they will make some adjustments so that you will feel more comfortable.
What is the benefit of regular exams to my oral health?
Routine checkups on dental health are necessary to identify any form of dental complications at an early stage, which may include cavities, gum infirmity, or oral cancer. Early detection of the problems can mean more and less invasive solutions and save you both time and money or even pain.
How will I find out that I need to have a deep cleaning?
When gum disease occurs due to the accumulation of plaque and tartar below the gum line, a deep cleaning is required. Once your dentist notices the symptoms of gum disease, like bleeding gums or swollen ones, the treatment he or she might suggest is a deep cleaning procedure.
Is it possible to have a dental cleaning and exam in one visit?
Yes, we at Enclave Dental do combined dental cleaning and exam to make it more convenient for the patient. This will save your time as the dentist will carry out a comprehensive check up as your teeth are being cleaned.
Dr. Shachi Shah a Lake Mary resident and the owner dentist at Enclave Dental, brings a wealth of expertise and a compassionate approach to every patient interaction. With years of experience in both general and cosmetic dentistry,
