How Frequently Should You Go For The Dental Assessment?

Most dental problems are avoidable with proper dental hygiene and care, and your dentist can treat and reverse them when detected early enough. While brushing and flossing is an excellent way to fight against common dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath, it may not be enough. For instance, even with regular brushing and flossing, you might still develop dental issues and not know it. Especially for children, daily brushing and flossing might not be thorough enough.

Having routine dental exams and cleanings will ensure that your mouth is clean and reduce the risk of dental issues. Similarly, dental exams let your dentist examine your mouth for dental problems that you might not have noticed. Your dentist can treat these issues before they develop into irreversible or life-threatening stages. Contact our dentist in T1Y 5T4 for more information about dental exams.

When to have dental assessments

According to dental experts, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year. Individuals with a history of dental issues such as periodontal disease and cavities should have more frequent dental assessments to prevent the recurrence of disease or infections. Regular dental exams and cleanings are also essential for individuals at high risk of developing dental issues. If you have an emergency or a problem before your appointment is due, you should contact your emergency dentist immediately.

Generally, the exact number of visits for dental assessments mainly depends on your oral health and needs. If you don’t have a dentist already, contact a dentist near you to schedule an appointment. Also, contact your insurance provider to find out if dental exams are covered. Most insurers cover two dental check-ups per year. Risk factors for dental infections and diseases include:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Pregnancy
• Cancer patients or previous diagnosed
• Diabetes or heart conditions
• Smoking
• Old age
• Poor diet habits, high consumption of sugar_, and acidic foods and beverages
• Harmful alcohol use

What to Expect At Your Dental Checkup

 Usually, a dental exam is a straightforward procedure . During a routine dental exam, the operations carried out may vary from one dentist to another. Typically, the procedure involves:

• Medical review

Before conducting any exams or cleanings, the dentist will review your oral and overall wellbeing. Let your dentist know if you have current or previous health concerns and whether you’re under medication. It helps your dentist understand the areas to pay close attention to and determine if anything needs addressing.

• Initial exam

Next, your dentist or hygienist will go ahead and examine your mouth, including the teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and jawbone. The dentist will check for oral issues such as cancer, gum disease, cavities, or tooth decay. If any problem is detected, the dentist will take the necessary measures to address it.

• Cleaning and polishing

Next, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and mouth using scalers and other dental tools. Professional cleaning helps to eliminate plaque, tartar, and bacteria from teeth’ surfaces and below the gum line, something you can’t do with regular brushing and flossing.

Next, the hygienists or the  dentist brushes, flosses, rinses, and thoroughly disinfects your teeth and mouth to eliminate excess plaque, debris, or bacteria. Some hygienist or the dentists may give a fluoride-based rinse for further protection. After cleaning, the hygienist or the  dentist polishes the teeth to provide them with a smooth, youthful, and brighter look. The hygienist or the dentist may also alert you on areas to focus more on when cleaning your mouth.

• Thorough dental exam

After cleaning your mouth, the dentist will perform a comprehensive examination. If necessary, the dentist might use visual, physical, and X-ray images. They look for potential gum disease, oral infections, and cavities.

If you have dental restorations such as fillings, bridges, sealants, crowns, or veneers, your dentist will inspect them for damages. If any restoration is damaged, the dentist will replace or repair them immediately to ensure maximum performance and protection.

During an oral examination, some dentists also perform oral cancer screening. They inspect your mouth, lips, neck, throat, head, gums, tongue, and mouth floors for early signs of oral cancer. Common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Sores that don’t heal
• Pain in the mouth, face, or ear
• White or red lumps or patches
• Pain when speaking or swallowing
• Unexplained bad breath

Like any disease, oral cancer is treatable if diagnosed in its early stages.

• Results

After the exam, the dentist will share the results and, if necessary, give advice or recommendations for perfect oral health. If a problem is detected, they will create a treatment plan to address it and, If necessary, schedule additional exams.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Ready to schedule your following dental assessment? Contact Sunridge Dental Clinic to speak with our dentist in Northeast Calgary.