The Importance Of Regular Dental Exams

The Benefits Of Dental Exams

Dental Hygiene
When you schedule a dental exam, you will also receive a dental cleaning. Bi-annual dental cleanings are a crucial part of oral hygiene, since they can reach places of the mouth that can’t be addressed with at-home tooth brushing and flossing. Professional dental cleanings help to remove the sticky plaque that can build up and damage your teeth and they leave your teeth cleaner, smoother, and healthier. Dental cleanings can also help to control bad breath and reduce tooth discolouration.

Addressing Issues Early
During regular dental exams any oral health issues are detected early before they develop into more severe concerns. For example, when a cavity is detected early it can be fixed with a filling and most of the natural tooth can be preserved. However, if that same filling is left untreated, the bacteria will continue to wear through the tooth and can infect the pulp (the soft tissue in the centre of the tooth) and lead to a tooth infection that becomes painful and requires a root canal. By detecting oral health issues early, you can preserve tooth health, prevent pain, and save money on expensive dental procedures.

Assess Tooth Positioning
Tooth positioning is important for everyone because it can affect your bite and your jaw comfort, but tooth positioning is especially important for people who are missing teeth and people whose jaws are still developing (such as children). While many adults with all of their teeth won’t have much tooth movement, people who are missing teeth are at risk of the teeth naturally shifting into the open spaces. People with overcrowded teeth may have teeth shifted as they try to fit in the mouth. A dental exam can assess your tooth positioning and assess if other teeth, such as molars, threaten to overcrowd your mouth. Children’s dental exams can help ensure that child tooth development is progressing appropriately. If tooth positioning isn’t right, your dentist may recommend wisdom tooth removal or Invisalign®.

Detecting Health Problems
Your dentist is a trained medical professional. When you go for a dental exam, your dentist isn’t only examining your teeth; they are assessing your entire mouth, including your throat. Swollen lymph nodes, spots on your throat, bad breath, swollen gums, and other abnormalities in the throat and mouth can signal to your dentist that you have an unaddressed health condition developing. During a dental exam, your dentist can detect signs of oral cancer, immune system disorders, tonsillitis, eating disorders, and even heart conditions. Identifying symptoms and requesting you get tests completed with your family doctor can be the first step in diagnosing and controlling serious health conditions.
 

Schedule A Dental Exam In Calgary

Maintaining your oral health and dental hygiene through regular dental exams is a vital part of health. Dental exams benefit the look and feel of your teeth while ensuring that you are receiving all the treatment you need and are fully informed about your health. Marlborough Dental Centre is proud to provide NE Calgary with high-quality, affordable dental care. If you are overdue for a dental exam or teeth cleaning, or if you have a dental concern (either medical or aesthetic) that you want addressed, contact us to schedule your appointment today by calling Marlborough Dental Centre at 1-403-248-2066 or filling in our online contact form.
 

FAQ

Q: How often should I visit the dentist?
A: It is recommended that you visit your dentist at least once every six months.

Q: How long does a dental cleaning and exam take?
A: Typically, a dental exam and cleaning will take one hour.

Q: Do I need to get x-rays done every time I visit the dentist?
A: A healthy adult with good oral hygiene will not require an x-ray every appointment. If your dentist has cause for concern, you may be required to have an x-ray done.