Teeth Cleaning & Dental Check-up

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Dental Cleaning Visit

Dental cleanings and regular check-ups should be or become a regular part of your annual dental care to promote healthy teeth and gums. During a regular dental checkup visit, you sometimes will see two professionals — the dentist and the dental hygienist.


What to expect during a routine dental check-up?

During a regular dental checkup visit, you sometimes will see two professionals — the dentist and the dental hygienist. The hygienist typically will learn about your concerns and expectations, take all the necessary radiographs, intraoral pictures, check your gums and teeth, clean and polish your teeth, and talk to you about caring for your teeth and gums properly at home. Once all the necessary diagnostic data is collected, Encino dentist will then review it all with the hygienist and you, perform clinical examination, diagnose concerns and problems and then recommend solutions and treatment choices.

Cleaning 

The purpose of a professional dental cleaning is to remove the hard calculus (also called tartar) from above and just below the gum line. Brushing and flossing at home removes plaque. Only dental instruments can remove calculus. Our dental hygienists may use ultrasonic instruments to blast away the larger chunks of tartar. They follow up with hand instruments to thoroughly clean the teeth. Some hygienists may use only hand instruments.

Polishing 

After the calculus is removed, the crowns of your teeth (the parts that shows in the mouth above the gum line) may be polished to remove plaque and surface stains. Typically, but not always, an abrasive substance is applied to the teeth with a small rotating rubber cup or brush. This helps to scrub away stains. The polishing substance will feel gritty in your mouth. But will be washed away with water.

Prevention 

The hygienist may offer customized instructions for oral care at home based on the results of the exam. Hygienist may demonstrate how to brush and floss properly. Sometimes, the hygienist will teach you to use a disclosing agent to test your brushing ability. A disclosing agent is a red solution or tablet that is applied to the teeth or chewed. The agent attaches to plaque and colors it to make it visible. Then you brush your teeth. You’ll be able to see any plaque that you missed. Not all dentists and hygienists recommend disclosing agents because they can be tricky to use. For example, they may highlight some areas of plaque that can be removed only by professional cleaning. They may also stain tooth-colored fillings. Some experts recommend using a disclosing agent only at the dentist’s office, and only if the hygienist is prepared to polish any remaining red color off the teeth afterwards. Disclosing agents are a useful tool for improving and provide motivation for good oral hygiene practices. We may recommend to use them at home.

X-rays/Radiographs

Radiographs are an essential tool to diagnose many dental diseases .At your first visit required radiographs will be taken. However at subsequent follow up visits radiographs may or may not be taken during your checkup. In the past, many dentists took X-rays at every checkup. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently says that X-rays are not needed at every visit. Although dental X-rays are safe, the FDA says unnecessary exposure should be limited because the effects of radiation add up over time. Especially in this age and time people also are exposed to radiation from many other sources. Some people may be able to go as long as 12 months between X-rays. Others may need them every few months. Our dentists will consider the results of your clinical examination, your dental history and your individual risk for developing cavities. Then will decide if you need X-rays during your check-up visit. If you are seeing a new dentist for the first time, ask for a copy of your X-rays from your former dentist so that a comparison can be made between the preexisting conditions and newly diagnosed issues.

Treatment Recommendations

If you are diagnosed with dental disease, we will recommend a comprehensive step by step plan to treat the cause and eliminate the disease. These may also include a referral to a specialist if deemed necessary. (Such as an endodontist, periodontist or orthodontist).

Important Reasons to Get Professional dental care

  • To detect possible health risks such as gum disease and oral cancer
  • To eliminate bad breath
  • To have a brighter, whiter smile
  • To prevent tooth loss
  • To maintain good physical health

Schedule to see a dentist at Encino Dentistry today:

You should see a dentist at least twice per year, or every six months, for an exam to check for any problems in the teeth or gums. If you’re at a high risk for dental problems, you’ll likely benefit from more frequent dental visits. Dental cleanings and exams allow dentists to identify problems and take care of them right away. Schedule your appointment today

Contact Encino Dentistry Today

We are always happy to talk to you and provide everything you need to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. Give us a call, and we’ll completely change the way you feel about visiting the dentist!
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Phone (Call or Text):

818-918-6070

Email:

[email protected]

Location & Map:

16133 Ventura Blvd Ste 445
Encino CA, 91436 – View Map