Dental Cleanings and Exams
Great Fall, MT
Good oral health starts at home. It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. While these habits are essential for preventing issues such as tooth decay and gum disease, however, they are only part of the equation. Along with proper care at home, regular dental visits to our office are also recommended. At River's Edge Dental, we can help to optimize your oral health with cleanings and exams.
Your Dental Cleaning
Dental cleanings are recommended at least twice a year. Your cleaning starts with a thorough scraping. Just like brushing and flossing at home, this scraping is designed to remove all buildup from the surfaces of your teeth, including between them and just below your gum line. In addition to removing plaque and bacteria, however, we are also able to remove tartar or calcified plaque. Tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush, no matter how hard you scrub. And it is recommended that you do not brush aggressively to protect your gums and your tooth enamel. We are also able to remove buildup from the areas of your mouth that you may not be able to access at home.
After the teeth have been scraped clean, they are then polished. This involves the use of an electric handpiece, outfitted with a rotating head, and a special dental polish. The polish contains abrasives that scrub the surfaces of your teeth to a smooth, beautiful finish. Cosmetic dentistry is something we always take into account with every patient that passes through our doors. The results of successful cosmetic dentistry is a pleasing aesthetic to your smile, and polishing accomplishes that nicely.
Finally, we floss your teeth. Along with removing buildup between your teeth that you might have missed at home, this flossing also removes loose debris and leftover polish from your cleaning.
Your Exams
Dental exams are also recommended at least twice a year and are usually done at the same appointment as your cleaning. Exams are done to check for potential issues in your mouth, such as tooth decay, cavities, damage, and gum disease. Exams allow us to spot these issues in their earliest stages, before symptoms even begin to show, enabling action to be taken quickly. The faster you take action; the easier treatments tend to be.
We visually inspect your mouth, carefully checking each of your teeth as well as your gum tissue. We also examine the other soft tissues in your mouth, checking for abnormalities that could point toward issues such as oral cancer. After looking over your mouth, we have a discussion with you about your oral hygiene habits at home and your lifestyle habits. We will also take the time to answer any questions and address any concerns that you might have.
Also, an integral component is dental X-rays. X-rays are images of the hidden areas of your mouth. With these images, we can see the spaces between your teeth as well as below the gum line. We can check for cavities between your teeth, damage to the tooth roots, infections, the condition of your jawbone, and more. While X-rays are an integral part of your oral healthcare record, they are not taken at every appointment, unless there is a concern that we need to monitor.
With regular dental cleanings and exams, we can help you to keep your whole mouth healthy and your smile beautiful. Moreover, right now, we are providing new patients with a cleaning, exam, and necessary dental X-rays for only $99. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call River's Edge Dental today at (406) 315-5882.
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