WHY DENTAL HEALTH CHECK-UPS ARE SO IMPORTANT

A regular dental check-up is important. These check-ups help keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should have a regular dental visit every 6 months or as recommended by your dental professional.

What Happens During a Dental Check-up?

There are two main parts to a regular dental visit. They include your check-up and the cleaning. At the dental check-up, your dental professional will check for cavities. If needed, X-rays may be taken to detect cavities between the teeth. Your dentist will also check for plaque build up and tartar on your teeth.

If plaque is not removed, it can harden becoming tartar. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing or flossing your teeth. If not cleaned and treated, they can cause oral diseases. During this process of your visit, there will be a lot of scraping and poking around your gum line. So if this is a part you don’t love too much, the tip is to brush & floss really well in between your visits.

Next is the cleaning which is done by a gritty toothpaste that will taste and smell just like regular minty paste you use at home. This will help ensure your teeth have cleaned away all the tartar and plaque as well as give your teeth the best clean they have seen in 6 months. Your hygienist uses a high-powered electric brush to apply the toothpaste. It sounds loud and scary, but it doesn’t hurt and actually can feel soothing as the brush vibrates over your teeth.

Once your teeth have been polished, your hygienist will begin flossing. Hopefully you’ve been taking care of this at home everyday so that she isn’t finding an overabundance of gunk in between your teeth. If you have a permanent retainer(s) along the inside of your teeth, she will use a special threading tool to get in between those teeth that are most likely neglected most due to the difficulty getting to them properly.

Then lastly, you have the option to receive a fluoride treatment. Because our Lafayette, Louisiana water does not naturally have fluoride in it like most other cities in our country, this a mineral your teeth are missing out on that is an important component to your overall dental health. Fluoride protects your enamel and helps them to naturally fight cavities for months after your treatment. This treatment involves a foamy wash placed in a mouthpiece tray that will be held over your teeth for a minute. Following that step, a fluoride varnish is painted onto your teeth to seal it on and it’s harden when coming into contact with saliva. The best part is that you are good to eat and drink once you are done!

If you are interested in a fluoride treatment at your next visit with us, ask your hygienist!