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Dental Check-Ups

Dental checkups are routine visits that consist of an examination and cleaning. Even dedicated brushers and flossers should have a thorough dental exam and cleaning twice per year.

Brushing and flossing each day are important steps to ensuring your mouth as clean and healthy as possible, but only your dental hygienist will be able to give you the deep, whole-mouth clean that professional tools and a second-person viewpoint can provide.

Here’s what happens in a typical dental checkup:

– A hygienist or a certified dental assistant will begin your dental checkup with a cleaning that includes removing tartar and plaque from around your gum line and the surface of your teeth, then polishing your teeth.

– They’ll report their observations on your dental health to the dentist.

– X-rays will be taken, if it has been more than a year since your last X-rays or if ordered by the dentist.

– Your dentist will examine your teeth, gums, soft palette, throat and neck, check for any abnormalities and review any X-rays that may have been taken.

– Your dentist will recommend any additional dental work you might need to maintain oral health and discuss your overall oral health and habits.

Why are Dental Check-Ups Important?

In addition to having your teeth professionally cleaned to get anything you may miss in your regular brushing, it’s also important that you have a dentist look over your teeth at least twice a year. These routine visits allow your dentist to identify any dental problems and other oral health issues you might not have noticed or could not see. Professional tools, like X-Rays, can uncover issues that the naked eye simply could not detect. Without regular visits to the dentist, untreated conditions will likely become painful and difficult to treat down the road.‌

Cavities that are unnoticed and left untreated eventually grow larger and will cause discomfort and more extensive issues, like sensitivity to hot or cold, and root decay or tooth loss. Being proactive twice per year and catching problems early will help keep your smile healthy and your dental needs routine.

How Often Should You Go to the Dentist?

There are many important reasons to visit your dentist regularly. Some of them relate not only to dental health but your overall well-being.

Maintaining a healthy mouth: Small areas in the mouth are missed by regular brushing and flossing. When plaque builds up it becomes more difficult to remove, solidifying and turning into tartar, which is hard to remove without professional help.
Preventing gum disease: Plaque and tartar buildup not only cause tooth decay but can also erode the mouth’s gum tissues. This infection is known as gingivitis, and as it progresses the tissue that attaches gums to the teeth starts to deteriorate.

Detecting cancer: Oral cancer is often not diagnosed and can quickly progress and become life-threatening. But early diagnosis often makes oral cancer easily treatable, and dentists are trained to spot any evidence of it.
Flagging bad habits: Many habits can damange your teeth, such as chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating sticky or hard sweets, brushing your teeth too hard, drinking coffee and red wine, and of course smoking or chewing tobacco. A dentist can warn you about any damage these habits might be causing.
X-rays: X-ray images of your teeth and jaw allow dental professionals to find and diagnose issues that may be invisible to the naked eye, such as internal tooth decay and impacted teeth.

Head, neck and lymph node checks: Your dentist will also check your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes for any abnormalities. They’re trained to recognize these symptoms and will refer you to the appropriate medical professional if they’re deemed serious.

To schedule your dental checkup in Chicagoland, contact All Family Dental and Braces today!

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