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.
It's easy to tell which tooth has
been "cleaned" in this photo!
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.
