What Does a Dental Check-Up Include?

What Is a Dental Check-Up?

It is a term that dentists at Lapeer family dentistry use to refer to routine visits to the dental office. The visits consist of an examination and cleaning, typically done by a dentist. After dental check-ups, dentists get a better grip on your oral health enough to recommend any dental treatments necessary.

However, it does not mean that a dental health check-up is a diagnostic evaluation to consider you for treatment. Further, a dental check-up should not be mistaken for a comprehensive dental exam or a screening session.

All these are different services that serve different roles in dentistry. Instead, a dental check-up is a routine examination and cleaning that can help optimize your overall oral health.

Dental Check-Up Procedure

Dental check-ups and cleanings often go hand-in-hand. They are preventive dental protocols necessary for excelling in oral health. The procedures will include a series of activities, including the following:

1. Physical test – your attending dentist will rely on vision and touch to examine your oral cavity. The physical tests will also be followed with a series of questions to help the dentist understand your oral health background.
2. Digital tests – even though they are not mandatory for every dental check-up, the tests may be necessary for additional evaluation. Digital tests may sometimes involve equipment like x-rays or cavity detectors. Dentists often resolve to conduct a digital test when they identify anomalies in your oral cavity that necessitate further evaluation.
3. Professional cleaning – is a process for thoroughly cleaning your oral cavity. The procedure does not aim to clean your teeth only but also the surrounding soft tissues. Various protocols are part of professional teeth cleaning, including:

1. Scaling – is a procedure for scrapping off calculus from your teeth surfaces and the areas below your gum line. Your dentist will use an ultrasonic scaler to get this done.
2. Teeth brushing – with an electric-powered toothbrush that thoroughly removes plaque and tartar from your teeth’ surfaces.
3. Flossing – removes plaque and food residues between your teeth and below the gum line.
4. Fluoride polishing – entails enriching teeth’ enamels with an element called fluoride. It adds an extra layer of protection to your teeth to keep them strong and heighten their resistance to bacteria that cause infections.

How Often Do I Need a Dental Check-Up?

Dentists recommend visiting the dentist at least twice yearly, meaning you will be due for another dental check-up after six months. However, it is different for some people since they need more than two visits annually.

Usually, your dentist will let you know if you need to schedule more sessions for a dental check-up. Some of the factors that can necessitate more than two annual dental visits are:

1. Smoking and other ways of using tobacco
2. Excessive consumption of alcohol
3. High risk of gum disease
4. Increased risk of dental cavities
5. A family history of oral-related complications

Why Do I Need to Come in for Regular Dental Check-Ups?

Regular dental check-ups at Lapeer City Dental are necessary preventive dental measures to help you maintain excellent oral health for a long time.

Some of the reasons you should visit us routinely for dental check-ups are:

1. Maintain good oral hygiene – a dentist will cater to the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth that can easily trap plaque, and tartar, breeding oral infections.
2. Improve your oral habits – a dentist will not let you leave a dental office without equipping you with tips crucial for adjusting your dental habits. Daily things you do affect your teeth, jaw, and surrounding tissues. Your dentist can help you overcome bad dental habits like teeth grinding, fingernail biting, or eating hard things like ice cubes.
3. Reduce the risk of infections – dental check-ups can help you mitigate the conduciveness of the oral cavity that can promote bacterial overgrowth. The goal is to lower the likelihood of infections like dental cavities and gum disease.

Catch dental problems early – dentists will detect anomalies in your mouth during the examination period. Catching problems early is an added advantage because you can begin your dental treatments to prevent the progression and worsening of the underlying conditions.