Dental Cleaning
During a routine dental cleaning, our Tonawanda dental professionals will remove plaque, a buildup of bacteria, from your teeth. This process involves scraping the teeth above and below the gum line with special tools, rinsing the teeth periodically, and flossing between the teeth. If you do not regularly floss, you may find this part of the cleaning process to be a little uncomfortable, but if you include flossing as part of your daily oral care routine, this discomfort will go away over time. At the end of the dental cleaning, the dental professional will polish your teeth to help protect them against the buildup of plaque and keep them looking shiny and smooth. This is done with a spinning brush and a paste that resembles toothpaste but is slightly coarser to better remove any residue that may have been missed during the cleaning. After the cleaning, you may be asked to rinse and gargle with mouthwash.
Dental Examination
During a dental examination with our Tonawanda dental experts, we, will talk to you about your dental history and may ask you about any medications, illnesses, allergies, concerns, or anxieties you may have. It is important to be honest with your dental team so they can provide the best care possible. Our dental professionals will also examine your teeth and mouth for any signs of concern, such as swelling, sores, cuts or lesions, gum recession, and tooth decay. They will use a small mirror to look around your mouth and check for spaces between your gums and teeth called dental pockets, which can pose a risk to your health and may indicate gum disease. Based on our findings, the dental professional may recommend home care and monitoring to protect your smile.
“Always be honest with our dental team so they can provide the best care possible.”
Dental X-rays
Dental X-rays are an important part of a dental checkup, particularly for new patients or those who have not had them done in a while. These X-rays allow our to check the roots of your teeth beneath the gum line, which are otherwise inaccessible. To take dental X-rays, you will bite down on a piece of plastic placed between your teeth, and a machine will be placed near your cheek to take the image. Your dentist will then review the image to check for any dental concerns. It is important to have dental X-rays done as part of your routine dental checkup to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy.
“Dental X-rays are an important part of a dental checkup, particularly for new patients or those who have not had them done in a while.”
The Importance of Regular Dental Care
It is important to visit the dentist regularly for dental checkups and cleanings. Our dental team recommends that all patients return to the office for checkups at least once every six months. By scheduling regular cleanings and dental checkups with our Tonawanda dental team, we will be able to monitor your teeth and gums for any signs of concern and provide guidance on how to prevent oral health problems. If you wait too long between checkups, plaque can build up on your teeth, which can lead to cavities, tooth decay, receding gums, and other oral health issues.
In addition to regular dental checkups, there are several things you can do at home to maintain good oral health. These may include:
- Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing daily
- Using a mouthwash
- Avoiding activities that can be detrimental to your oral health, such as smoking.
“By following these recommendations and visiting the dentist regularly, you can help keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent oral health problems.”
Frequently Asked Questions
During a dental cleaning, a dental professional will use specialized dental tools to clean the teeth. These tools include a scraping tool that looks like a small metal hook to remove buildup from the surface of the teeth and an electric toothbrush with coarse toothpaste to clean and shine the teeth. Together with a dental mouthwash, a dental cleaning will remove buildup from the teeth and protect them from bacteria.
A dental exam is very similar to a dental checkup. Just like a checkup, a dental professional checks the teeth for any sign of concern and cleans the teeth. The difference is that with a dental exam, the dental professional will also check other areas that may be affected by oral health, like the head and neck. This exam is usually only recommended for new patients.
A dental X-ray is like other X-rays, but this one looks specifically at the mouth. More specifically, this X-ray looks at the roots and areas beneath the gum line where the dental professional otherwise would not be able to see. Dental X-rays are important for checking for signs of disease or other oral health concerns around the roots of the teeth.
Bacteria naturally attach to the surface of the teeth as they are used to eat. While at-home oral care can help to remove much of this bacteria, it is next to impossible to remove all of it without professional dental tools. Waiting too long between dental checkups gives these bacteria time to settle onto the teeth and turn into plaque and tartar. If this buildup is not removed, it could lead to tooth decay or disease over time and create further oral health concerns.
Recommended at-home dental care includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Also, dental care professionals suggest patients use a mouthwash that includes fluoride. Patients may be advised to avoid smoking, eating sugary foods, and other activities that are known to be harmful to oral health.
