Dental Cleanings in Vermillion, SD
Taking care of your teeth at home can help you maintain your dental health and prevent periodontal, or gum, disease from developing. Combined with visiting your dentist regularly for dental cleanings, it is your ticket to good dental health. Your dentist is your partner in dental health – don’t skip out on routine visits. It is recommended that most people get a dental cleaning every six months, but your dentist may recommend more frequent or fewer visits, depending on your dental health history.
What to Expect at Your Dental Cleaning
With your dental cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist will use a special instrument called a hand scaler or ultrasonic dental instrument to scrape and remove the tartar from your teeth. They will then polish your teeth, often with a rotating rubber cup or brush, to remove any remaining plaque or stains. After your cleaning is complete, your hygienist or dentist will discuss any dental hygiene problems that were detected and show you how to brush and floss more effectively, if necessary.
Both your dental hygienist and dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth, to look for changes or signs of a problem. During your examination, your dentist may also use a special probe to measure the pockets between your teeth and gums, an explorer tool to poke at your teeth and determine if any cavities are present, and a mouth mirror to get a better view of the sides and back of your teeth.
If you have any visible problems, your dentist may recommend a particular treatment or may refer you to a specialist, such as a periodontist or an orthodontist, for further treatment. Additionally, at some of your dental visits, your dentist may decide to take x-rays of your teeth to look for decay, gum disease, or other dental problems.
What is the Importance?
Maintaining a regular dental checkup schedule with your dentist will ensure that any potential dental issues are quickly identified and treated before they can turn into painful, and highly expensive, medical issues that may require surgery or permanent treatment options.
The importance of maintaining regular checkups ranges from preventing fatal conditions to maintaining healthy gum and teeth so they are working at their optimal level. On one end of the scale, regular dental visits will clear the patient of any potential oral cancers, which are highly curable if caught early on. On a lesser scale, but perhaps far more prevalent is gum disease, which is an infection of the gum tissue and the bone. This is also true of cavities and broken fillings, which, if left untreated can result in root canals, gum surgery, and removal of teeth.
Additionally, routine dental checkups prevent the buildup of plaque and clean the teeth and gums to a healthy level, thereby reducing the onset of bad breath.
Good oral hygiene is important, not only for looks but for general health as well. Regular checkups and dental cleanings can prevent problems from occurring as well as provide you with good oral hygiene. Be sure to visit your dentist at least once every six months, for routine dental checkups and dental cleanings.
