The first time you visit a San Diego Dentist Association member, your new dentist will perform a thorough dental exam to find out how you’re doing. During this exam and at each follow-up exam appointment, they will do the following:
- Digital x-rays. These quick and easy images can spot tooth decay, bone loss, cysts, tumors and problems with tooth positioning.
- Gum disease exam. This includes gentle probing, a visual inspection of gums and more.
- Tooth decay exam. A special instrument is used in conjunction with x-rays to check tooth surfaces for signs of decay.
- Oral cancer screening. This visual exam of the gums, tongue, lips, neck, throat, face and other tissues can spot potentially devastating problems that need attention.
- Check of previous restorations. Any previous restorations like crowns, fillings and bridges will be inspected to see if they are of good quality or show any damage.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Officially called dental prophylaxis, professional dental cleaning isn’t as complex as the name indicates. Usually performed by a dental hygienist, this cleaning involves the following steps:
Plaque removal. This nearly invisible sticky film should be brushed and flossed away daily, but it can sometimes form pockets below the gumline that are hard to remove, and these indicate gum disease.
Tartar removal. Hardened plaque, called tartar or calculus, happens when plaque is not cleaned away frequently. Special dental instruments can remove it to allow gums to adhere better to teeth.
Teeth polishing. This step removes stains and smooths grooves or scratches for teeth that look better and don’t allow as much plaque and tartar to adhere to them.
To get started with an SDDA dentist, reach out now. The first step is a professional exam and cleaning that will tell you where you stand and how the dental team can help you look and feel better than ever before.