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Know What to Expect from a Good Dentist

Author: Steven H. Poulos, DDS

We all know that dentists tell us to get our teeth checked and cleaned twice a year. Sometimes more.

Of course the dentist will check for cavities and clean your teeth. And it is necessary that you attend to the health of your teeth and gums by having regular cleanings and exams. But there are other things that a good dentist will do at a check up to prevent future problems with teeth and gums and to maintain current health.

One of the first things a dentist should do is ask about your health history – not just about your teeth, but about any medical conditions, medications or illnesses. With this information a dentist can discover what might affect your teeth and mouth.

X-rays should be done to not only find cavities, tumors, cysts and bone loss, but also to determine tooth and root positions.

Oral cancer should be checked for by examining the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat and gums.

Periodontal disease should be evaluated by an examination of gums and bone around the teeth. Periodontal disease is gum disease.

All tooth surfaces should be checked for decay with specialized dental instruments.

Calculus is a hardened plaque that clings to teeth over a longer period of time. This has to be removed with specialized dental tools. Since it is steadfastly attached to the surface of teeth, it cannot be removed with brushing or polishing. A good dentist will perform this removal.

Plaque is actually a colony of bacteria, mixed up with saliva and food. This sticky substance forms on teeth and much of it can be removed with brushing. It can inflame gums and thus begins periodontal disease. A dentist will ensure that all plaque is cleaned off the teeth.

Teeth should be polished to get rid of plaque and stains.

A dentist should help you determine what is needed from you at home to promote good oral health – for example, a dentist may recommend an electric toothbrush or special mouth rinses.

A dentist should discuss diet with you and recommend whatever is needed to improve dental health.

As you can see, a good dental exam and cleaning involves quite a lot more than just checking for cavities and polishing your teeth.

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Tags: check up, dental check-up, dental disease, dentist, great smile, gums, Health, healthy, healthy gums, healthy teeth, oral hygiene, plague, teeth, visit dentist

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 2:23 AM and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.