What to Expect at Your Next Dental Exam?

 

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a biannual dental checkup. Now, think about the last time you visited a dental clinic near you. Has it been over a year? Then, you may benefit from our affordable dental exams in Flagstaff. We suggest not postponing the appointment any longer because you could develop serious dental issues.

What Can You Expect from a Dental Checkup?

Dental checkups may scare some people (especially with dental anxiety); however, they are quite simple. During a checkup, our dentist in Flagstaff observes your teeth and gums, performs an oral cancer screening, and takes a set of x-rays for a complete diagnostic.

What is Oral Cancer Screening?

No checkup is complete without this procedure. It is essential to look for lumps or abnormalities in the soft tissues of your mouth.

During oral cancer screening, the doctor will look for precancerous lesions. If they do, they may prescribe a biopsy.

Early detection of this type of cancer increases the chance of a good prognosis.

Why are Dental Checkups Important?

Dental checkups are vital because they prevent many oral conditions like a periodontal disease – the infection of the bone and tissues surrounding it. During a checkup, the hygienist may perform cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup (tartar is the hardened plaque).
 
If unremoved, the gums inflame, and periodontal disease begins. The first stage is gum inflammation and is reversible, and you must seek treatment before it worsens.

What are the Stages of Periodontal Disease?

 If this condition is untreated, you may lose one or many dental pieces. The stages are the following:
 
1. Gingivitis - It is the inflammation of the gums. You may notice they bleed while you brush or floss your teeth and tartar buildup, and you should look for dental cleanings near you if you do. By undergoing a professional cleaning and performing excellent oral care habits at home, you may reverse Gingivitis.

2. Periodontitis - Our dentist in Flagstaff is an expert in treating periodontitis. Symptoms are gum recession (your teeth look large), bad breath, bleeding when brushing teeth. Our team will plan root planing and scaling to treat it.

The procedure consists of eliminating plaque and calculus from the teeth and roots. Afterward, they are smooth and reattach to the dental pieces in about a month. We suggest not postponing treatment because it can only worsen.

3. Advanced periodontitis – The most severe stage is advanced periodontitis. Teeth move around a lot (it seems they may fall out on their own), patients have chronic bad breath, and their gums are swollen, red, and hurt.

The treatment for advanced periodontitis depends on the severity. In some cases, the dentist will Schedule curettage or root planing for removing the infected tissue from the roots, but it may not be enough. You may require bone and gum grafting due to the bone and gingiva recession. In this procedure, the doctor transfers bone from a donor site to a recipient one. It stimulates your body to grow more bone, and your dental pieces retain in the socket.

When the shifting is too much, not even bone grafting helps, and you must undergo dental extractions. Keeping infected teeth in your mouth may cause severe problems like abscesses and even sepsis. If your doctor pulls out the damaged teeth, you should look for prosthodontic treatments like dental implants and dental crowns.

Do Not Wait to This Point!

Prevention is the key to excellent oral care. Keeping up with your checkups will help maintain a healthy smile and periodontitis far away!

The Importance of Dental Checkups

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting a dental professional every six months for a checkup. However, a doctor may advise you to go for dental cleanings and exams near you every three or four months if you are a high-risk patient.

What is a High-Risk Group?

These patients have a high risk of developing cavities or gum disease due to their habits, conditions, and lifestyle. Among them, you may find the following:

- Pregnant women

- Heavy smokers

- People with periodontal disease

- Patients that have had multiple cavities in the last year

- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes 

If your dentist considers it correctly, they may suggest you visit them every three months. On the other hand, if you are a low-risk patient, you can make a trip to the dentist every year instead of every six months.

What is a Low-Risk Group?

These patients have excellent oral care, haven’t had any cavities in their last year, and take foods low in sugars. If you are one of them, your dentist may schedule your appointments once a year.

Why are Dental Checkups Important?

You may benefit from our dental exams in Flagstaff because your doctor will monitor your teeth, gums, and other soft tissues, like your tongue and cheeks. They will also perform oral cancer screening for prevention.

An oral cancer screening consists of checking your mouth looking for white or red patches. If your dentist detects any unusual mouth sore, they may recommend further testing. 

If you detect any bumps, ensure to tell your dentist for them to evaluate it and see if there is something to concern.

Your dental professional will also take a set of x-rays to detect any issues that they cannot see with the naked eye, such as dental caries between teeth, impacted teeth, and the condition of the jawbone.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is the infection of the tissues that support your teeth and gums. When you skip brushing and flossing your teeth, the dental plaque builds up (a film containing saliva, bacteria, and food debris). Whenitdoes, the gums inflame (Gingivitis).

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis. It is reversible, and you fix it by keeping up with your oral care habits. If untreated, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. 

If you have tartar buildup, you must visit a dentist near you for professional teeth cleaning. Not doing so may lead to bone recession. Your teeth will lose support and can fall out.

You may benefit from our preventative treatments in our dental clinic in Flagstaff to prevent periodontal disease. 

Primary Oral Care Habits

Your dentist will help you along the way, but you must do the work at home. Here are the recommendations to follow to prevent oral issues away:

1. Brush your teeth – You must brush your teeth two times a day for at least two minutes. Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush not to harm your teeth and gums.

2. Floss – You must use dental floss, interdental brushes, or water flossers to clean the surfaces between your teeth. The toothbrush does not reach these areas, so you must use these devices to remove dental plaque from there.

3. Avoid sugary foods – Try to reduce the consumption of sugary foods because bacteria react with starchy foods and produce acids that wear away the enamel.

4. Visit your dentist regularly – Keeping up with your dental checkups, as we mentioned before, will help to detect any early signs of a problem, and your dental professional will advise you on the steps to follow.