We hear much in the media and advertising that has at best, questionable truth.  What you probably have heard, however, that is as true as the sun rising in the East – is that EVERYONE needs a dental check-up with their dentist every 6 months!  A dentist can show you how to care for your mouth – a very important part of your anatomy to overall optimal health.  A dentist can also detect problems that could be easily cured, if caught at their early stages – such as incipient gum disease – that would not be detected by individuals inspecting their own mouths.  Most importantly, prevention of dental problems is the key to your attractive, healthy smile.

What can you expect at your dental examination?

The first step is for the dentist to check your teeth for any cavities.  Cavities can present in different ways, and occasionally a dentist might speak about “a spot” he or she is watching, that could be a potential cavity.  Decay can appear as a simple hole under the tooth enamel’s surface.  This hole would likely be filled by the dentist, so food could not get into the hole, be trapped there, and cause decay.

The next step would be for the dentist to check your gums and assess the overall picture of your oral hygiene.  If there are problems with the gums detected by the dentist, he or she can test the depth of what they call “pockets” around the teeth.  The depth of these pockets will increase with advancing gum disease, so if caught early, reparative strategies can be implemented.  The dentist will then go to the softer tissues around the oral cavity to inspect for any lesions, or sores, and check for the presence of the pink, moist tissue which should be present in a healthy mouth.

Dentists may take oral X-rays, and many recommend this procedure once a year, or every other exam. Exam findings, however, may dictate the frequency, or decision to have X-rays at any given dental exam.  The basic reason for X-rays is to find the decay not visible to the human eye – that which is hidden between teeth, and also to assess the level of the bone, which is an important tool in detecting periodontal disease.  Again – these problems can be caught early and treated appropriately; if they are unknown, disease advances and successful treatment becomes more difficult.

After the basic dental examination, the dentist has the information needed to determine just how much risk any given patient may face for either developing oral cavity problems or having early problems advance.  Your overall oral hygiene would, of course, provide a basis for this risk assessment.  Dentists are very adept at determining just what kind of diet you probably have most of the time, and if you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly and regularly.  This assessment gives the dentist the place to start in each patient’s unique education for optimal dental health.

Your dentist can spell out your risk for developing oral cavity problems, and instruct on proper oral hygiene, including products to use regularly, and how to use them, such as the proper tooth brush and floss for your mouth.  Dentists will also detail just how a high carbohydrate, high concentrated sweets diet can put you on a path to rapid tooth decay.  Dentists also have a wealth of information on how certain medications you may take can affect your oral health, and how to prevent potential problems, such as gum disease.  When you leave the office, you will also go with your plan for future follow-up, the dentist recommending the time frame for your next visit – usually 6 months.  If you are having oral problems, the dentist may want you to return sooner.  That is determined at each and every visit, based on the dental exam.  You and your mouth are unique, and your dentist will show you what is needed to keep you smiling!

We invite you to visit us and experience the numerous professional services provided for you by Dentists in Grand Rapids, Steven M. Conlon D.D.S. & James P.M. Vincelj D.D.S.