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Your regularly scheduled check-up is
often referred to as a "cleaning", but there
is much more to it than that! The technical term is
oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of
oral disease.
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One way to prevent oral disease is
to remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus) both
above and below the gum line. You may also be given
special instructions on brushing or flossing to keep
clean the areas where we found significant buildup.
That is the familiar "cleaning" part of
your checkup.
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It's easy to tell which tooth has
been "cleaned" in this photo!
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Another way to prevent oral disease is by early
detection and treatment. During your checkup you will be screened
for many potential threats to your oral health, including:
In addition, some systemic diseases, such as
diabetes, often present themselves first inside the mouth,
so early detection extends beyond just oral disease.
Your Dental Hygienist is your first-line of
defense against oral disease. Your hygienist is a highly trained
professional who can evaluate your teeth and gums, both visually
and with the assistance of x-rays and other modern technology,
to discover threats to your oral or general health. Your dentist
will review the findings of your hygienist and advise you
on any threats to your oral or general health.
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