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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.
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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