Your oral health matters for a variety of reasons, but most importantly being it keeps you healthy. It’s important to keep your oral health a priority and can easily do so through high quality preventative dental care. Here are a few different types of preventative dental care and what they do for you.
Exams
Dental exams allow your doctor to have an in-depth look at what’s going on in your mouth. During an exam, the doctor will look at your teeth and check for any cavities, decay, or gum disease. This allows the doctor to evaluate your risk of developing any other oral problems while also checking your face, neck, and mouth for abnormalities. This is essential because one of the first places health issues show signs is often through your mouth. So not only can your dentist catch oral issues you may be experiencing, but other health concerns as well. It also gives them the opportunity to check-in and ensure nothing is wrong or out of the ordinary.
Cleanings
Dental cleanings follow next in line when it comes to preventative care. Your hygienist will start your cleanings with an oral exam, like the one described above. This allows the hygienist an overview of what areas need more attention. They will start by removing plaque and tartar around the gum line. Tartar is the result of plaque that has been on the teeth for quite a while. You cannot get rid of it with regular brushing, so it’s essential to visit the dentist. They have the proper tools to safely remove tartar from your teeth, leaving them healthy and clean. Once this step is complete, the hygienist will brush your teeth and floss. The dentist will come in at the very end to go over any issues that may have presented themselves and just to check everything is in good shape.
X-Rays
Dental X-rays give your dentist the opportunity to take a closer look inside your mouth. Your dentist has the ability to check your bones, teeth, and roots all in one spot. It also shows if any teeth are impacted, crowded, missing, etc. You will not need to receive a dental x-ray at every single appointment. Your dentist will tell you when it’s time for a new one.
To learn more about the types of high-quality preventative care, visit Westmoreland Dental. At Westmoreland, we provide a variety of services including both general and cosmetic dentistry, and so much more. To schedule an appointment with our doctor, visit us online here today!