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Your regularly scheduled check-up
is often referred to as a "cleaning",
but there is much more to it than that! The
technical term is oral prophylaxis, which
means prevention of oral disease.
One way to prevent oral disease
is to remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus)
both above and below the gum line. You may also
be given special instructions on brushing or
flossing to keep clean the areas where we found
significant buildup. That is the familiar "cleaning"
part of your checkup. |
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It's easy to tell which tooth
has been "cleaned" in this photo!
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 Another
way to prevent oral disease is by early detection and
treatment. During your checkup you will be screened
for many potential threats to your oral health, including:
In addition, some systemic diseases, such as diabetes,
often present themselves first inside the mouth, so
early detection extends beyond just oral disease.
Your Dental Hygienist is your first-line of defense
against oral disease. Your hygienist is a highly trained
professional who can evaluate your teeth and gums, both
visually and with the assistance of x-rays and other
modern technology, to discover threats to your oral
or general health. Your dentist will review the findings
of your hygienist and advise you on any threats to your
oral or general health.
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