Dental Visit – Dental Checkup and Cleaning

Getting a dental checkup is one of the essential steps in your oral care routine. But you might wonder what you can expect during a checkup and cleaning. That way, you can make a more informed decision for your health. Keep reading to learn more about what the procedure involves.

Getting the dental checkup

The dental hygienist and dentist will see the patient. First, an initial exam happens. The dentist might talk to the patient about any health changes. Next, the hygienist will polish and clean the teeth and talk about gum and teeth care. If the patient has any questions, now is the time to ask them.

The dentist does an oral exam of the teeth and gums and looks over the hygienist’s cleaning. Next, it is time to look for symptoms of diseases. These might include oral cancer or gum disease. If the patient has any issues, the dentist will recommend the right treatments.

The patient might have some X-rays done depending on the dental checkup. The dentist will think about whether the patient is likely to develop oral health issues. If the patient gets X-rays, the procedure is painless. It lets the dentist look below the gumline for potential problems.

What happens at the cleaning?

Brushing and flossing the teeth at home can remove some plaque, but getting a professional cleaning is still vital. That gives the patient a more thorough cleaning to remove tartar or calculus. Metal tools are useful for cleaning the teeth, and sometimes, ultrasonic devices are used. That allows the dentist to clean below the patient’s gumline.

Next, it is time to polish the teeth to remove stains and other plaque. The polish is slightly abrasive. It also has fluoride in it. The hygienist uses a rubber brush that rotates to apply and use it.

Other things looked for during the exam

If the patient has a comprehensive exam, that might include checking the neck and head. The dentist might also look for tenderness and swelling, which might indicate a disease or infection. The salivary glands and lymph nodes are critical to check. The dentist might look over the jawbone to see that it works well.

Next, it is time to check the soft tissue. That includes the inside of the cheeks, the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the bottom of the mouth. The dentist looks for signs of oral cancer, such as growths, spots, or lesions. The dentist can also look at the back of the patients’ throat.

Finally, the dentist looks at the gum tissue for signs of gum disease. The supporting teeth structures and gums get examined closely. The dentist looks for swollen or red gum tissue. It might bleed easily if there is an issue.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Checkup in Torrance, CA

Choose the right dental checkup today

Knowing more about what to expect during the procedure will help you make a more informed decision. For example, you will receive both an exam and a checkup. That allows the dentist to look for possible issues. Making an appointment today is the first step in getting a brighter smile.

Request an appointment or call SmileWell Family Dentistry at 310-904-6375 for an appointment in our Torrance office.

Recent Posts

When Your Dentist Checks Your Gum Health During Your Dental Check-up

When you go to the dentist for your annual dental check-up, your dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums to ensure that they are healthy and free from decay or disease. During this visit, your dentist may use an instrument called a periodontal probe to measure how deep the pockets around…

5 Reasons Regular Dental Checkups Are Essential

A regular dental checkup is one of the most important aspects of a good oral healthcare routine. However, many people skip these appointments or go less frequently than they should. If you are in this situation, whether due to time constraints, financial concerns, a fear of the dentist, or any other reason, you should consider…

What To Expect At A Dental Checkup

If you have never seen a dentist, it has been a long time since your last visit, or perhaps you had a bad experience at some point, it would help a lot to know what to expect at a dental checkup. Dental professionals work hard to put every client at ease. Regardless of the treatment…

SmileWell Family Dentistry

Share
Published by
SmileWell Family Dentistry

Recent Posts

Options for Replacing a Single Missing Tooth

Do you have a missing tooth? There are various options for restoring a single missing…

2 days ago

3 Options for Replacing Missing Teeth To Avoid Shifting Teeth

Are you looking into your options for replacing missing teeth? Fortunately, there are various options…

1 week ago

Wisdom Teeth Extraction: What to Expect Before, During, and After

Wisdom teeth extraction is a common dental procedure that helps prevent problems with impacted or…

2 weeks ago

Options for Replacing Missing Teeth from Sports Injuries

Participating in sports is a fun and healthy hobby, but it can lead patients to…

2 weeks ago

Implant Supported Full Bridge – An Option for Replacing Missing Teeth

When searching for the most suitable option for replacing missing teeth, you might have come…

4 weeks ago

How Implant Crowns Can Restore Your Smile

Missing teeth can make chewing, speaking, and even smiling difficult. Implant crowns are a long-lasting…

4 weeks ago