Check-Ups
Regular check-ups are essential for maintaining your oral health. During a check-up our dentists will exam the tissues in your mouth, jaw joints, head, and neck for signs of anything that may threaten your health. Regular radiographs (x-rays) are a necessary tool our dentists and hygienists use to fully examine between your teeth, the teeth roots and the supporting bone.
- It starts with a quick head, neck and throat screening for signs of oral cancer or other pathologies. (More on this below)
- Next, we will check your jaw joints in front of your ears to determine the health of your TMJ joint.
- Then we will thoroughly examine your gums for signs of gingivitis or periodontal
- Finally we inspect your teeth for decay, cracks, and other things that may require intervention.
At each check-up we will update your personal prevention plan and let you know how your oral health is doing and what you can do to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. We will also discuss any findings that we observe that may require dental treatment or gum therapy.
Finally we encourage you to ASK QUESTIONS about anything regarding your oral health or smile. Use this opportunity to discuss any cosmetic things that are bothering you, teeth grinding, orthodontics, or anything else that is on your mind. We welcome and support your participation.
Cancer Screen
Oral cancer is a rare but serious disease that needs to be taken seriously. People of all walks of life are susceptible to oral cancer, not just smokers. It is critical for everyone to get an oral cancer screen at least once a year to ensure that any problems are caught early and to stop the development of this potentially fatal or disfiguring disease.
A visual and palpation inspection is sufficient for most people. However our office offers the Vizilite Plus exam for at risk individuals such as smokers, tobacco users, heavy drinkers, individuals know to have HPV, and persons with a history of cancer. Vizilite Plus is a mouth rinse you use in our office that makes potential lesions more visible to our doctors.
Cleanings
Cleanings remove the plaque, calculus, and stain that build-up over time. We have the ability to position you in our chair and use our specialized instruments to get into the places that are impossible for you to clean at home. Areas behind and between teeth and below the gumline are very difficult to clean at home and are often the site of build-up. Come in for routine cleanings so we can eliminate this build-up and reduce the amount of bacteria living in your mouth.