Dental Exams in Southington, CT
Constant Dental Care
Dental Exams: Why They Are Important For A Healthy Smile
The health of your teeth and gums is vital not just for a beautiful smile but also for the health of your entire body. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash are all excellent ways to ensure your oral health. However, it is also necessary to visit your Southington dentist for a dental exam.
During the dental checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine your teeth, gums, and tongue for signs of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other issues that may have gone unnoticed by an untrained eye. They will look for any obvious problem spots first, checking for cavities, plaque, loose teeth, or infection. Your dentist will also want to check any crowns, braces, and other dental work to ensure that everything is still in place and no repairs or replacements are needed.
Examining the alignment of your jaw is also part of a dental exam. Your dentist will check for signs of an underbite, overbite, or crossbite that could majorly affect the health of your teeth. After this, your dentist may order a dental X-ray to take a closer look at your teeth and check for signs of gum disease, oral cancer, or other issues that start where you can’t see.
Though not often part of an initial exam, your dentist may offer you a dental cleaning as part of preventative dental care. This involves using tools to scrape plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. This is important because plaque can easily lead to periodontal disease and tooth decay if left alone. Once the majority of plaque and tartar has been removed, the dentist will floss between your teeth and use a special toothpaste to clean the surface of your teeth further before rinsing your mouth out with fluoride.
How Often Should You Get An Examination?
If you have healthy teeth and care for them with regular brushing and flossing, you can schedule an exam twice a year at the most. It’s also important to maintain regular screenings for intra-oral/extra-oral cancer.
You may need to schedule exams more often if you’ve had a history of oral health issues or if you’ve had corrective/restorative dental work done. Your dentist will want to make sure that braces are fitted well, crowns and fillings are still in place, and no new issues have come up.
Scheduling regular dental exams with your dentist has several benefits that you cannot overlook:
- Allows your dentist to perform preventative dental care if an issue comes up.
- It keeps your teeth white and healthy.
- Allows you to spend less time in the dentist’s office to deal with dental health issues.
- It saves you money in the long term by preventing dental health problems that require expensive procedures and treatments to fix.
How Long Does A Dental Exam Take?
The length of your exam depends on your dentist and whether they spot any issues on the initial inspection that require the use of X-rays. A general dental exam takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. This does not include the time spent on dental cleaning if your dentist recommends one.
How Often Should Have A Dental Exam?
It is recommended to have two dental exams per year along with cleanings.
Contact Us Today
At Constant Dental Care, our dental health professionals have provided some of the highest standards of care for patients in the Southington area. But that care could not have happened without regular exams. So, please schedule an appointment with us today, and see why our dental care team has a reputation for providing the best service with your comfort in mind. We treat our patients like they are part of our own families, with the highest possible clinical care at an affordable price thanks to our flexible payment options. We hope to see you for a dental exam soon!