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Importance of Regular Exams
How we diagnose
periodontal disease and decay
Because we’re committed to
preventive dentistry, we recommend that all of our patients see us at least
every six months for a routine cleaning and examination. Dental problems start
out small but can quickly worsen to become much more serious conditions. These
problems are much easier to treat when we catch them early.
Serious
conditions begin as treatable problems
The effects of gingivitis, for example, are reversible. But when gingivitis
advances to periodontal disease, the bone loss that can result is irreversible.
A small cavity on the surface of
a tooth can easily be fixed, but if it spreads to the inner layers of the
tooth, we’ll usually need to perform root canal therapy and restore the tooth
with a crown.
If you have a cracked filling,
an infection in the tooth’s inner pulp layer can result, requiring root canal
therapy.
A bad bite can contribute to problems with your temporomandibular joint
(TMJ), and can cause the painful cycle of muscle spasms and other jaw-joint
problems commonly known as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. The list
of potentially fast-growing problems goes on.
Regular
checkups allow us to treat problems early
During your regular checkups, we
examine the health of your mouth, measure the bone levels around your teeth,
check for decay, screen for oral cancer, examine your restorations, evaluate
your bite, and remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. The bacteria that
cause periodontal disease thrive in plaque and tartar, producing toxins that
can cause bone loss and eventually tooth loss. A toothbrush and floss won’t
even budge tartar, so we must remove it every six months in our office.
Your six-month exam and cleaning is a critical part of a preventive program.
It’s the best way for you to prevent advanced dental problems, and that
minimizes the time and money you spend in the dental chair.
You may also be interested in:
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Grinding
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Gum
Disease and Heart Attacks: Is There a Connection?
Think
smokeless tobacco is safer than cigarettes? Think again
Sleep
Apnea—It's More Than Just Snoring
Tongue
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Brushing
Your Teeth
The
Proper Flossing Technique
Plaque
Disclosing Tablets
Fluoride
Homecare
for periodontal disease
Dental
superfloss
Preventive
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What
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Nutrition
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Dental
Ultrasonic Scaling
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