One of the most basic, but most important, parts of dental health care are regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist. According to Dr. Seikel, it is important for every patient to come to see the dentist for a check-up and hygiene cleaning every six months, starting at the age of four. Hygiene cleanings are important because they allow us to keep an eye on your overall dental health. They are also a good chance to remove excess buildup of plaque and tartar that naturally develop over time, regardless of how often you brush and floss.

Although at-home oral health care practices are crucial to the health of your smile, there are some parts of your mouth that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. As your dental care professionals, we are equipped with the right technology to reach and thoroughly clean these areas. By keeping this buildup to a minimum, we are able to limit the amount of bacteria in your mouth and to help cut down on the risk of disease and decay.

During your dental cleaning, we will carefully analyze each and every tooth to look for signs of cavities. Dental cavities can be pesky and annoying when they are small, but when they are not treated properly and are left to further rot and decay, they can compromise the total health of your tooth and, in severe cases, can lead to tooth loss. Regular checkups and hygiene appointments help us to catch and treat cavities early, before they pose a significant threat to your mouth.

Dental cleanings are also important for the health of your gums. Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, can be hard to detect, and show little symptoms until it has progressed into its later and more serious stages. At our hygiene checks, we will thoroughly scan for any signs of gum disease. If necessary, we can also perform a deep clean on your gums to stop gum disease before it spreads and progresses.

After we have done a cleaning and looked at your teeth and gums for signs of damage and decay, we will then do an oral cancer screening. Oral cancer is easy to treat when detected early, but can often be deadly in its late stages. During an oral cancer screening we check for any abnormalities in your mouth. If we see anything questionable or concerning, we may send a sample of your cells away for a biopsy. This proactive approach to cancer screenings helps us to catch the condition early and treat it quickly.

If you are due for a teeth cleaning or dental check-up, or if you want to learn more about our routines and processes, give us a call today. We can set up an appointment to help get your oral health back on track.