Why Regular Dental Visits Are Important?
While a dental checkup may not always appear to be the most fun activity to do, having a check-up is important. Having a dental checkup every six months will help you track the health of your teeth, help you notice if there’s anything wrong with your growth, and help remind you of the necessary steps to take for care.
What typically happens at a dental office?
At your dental office, your dental professional will check up on any cavities, plaque build-up, tartar, and other infections in your teeth. To understand the progression of dental health, if a person were to not take the time to brush and floss their teeth, plaque can build up. Plaque, a sticky layer of bacteria along the enamel and gum line of the mouth, is the precursor to tartar, which ultimately cannot be removed through normal methods of dental care. If these substances continue to build over time, oral diseases such as gingivitis can develop, a type of gum disease where the gum swell and the spaces in between the teeth lose their ability to grip to the growing teeth. Your dentist will check your teeth and gums for all of these signs and recommend future actions to take.
Your dentist will also check the other parts of your body, such as your tongue, throat, face, and neck to look for any signs of trouble that may be contributing to your dental health, such as swelling, redness, and even signs of cancer.
After the checkup, your dentist will clean your teeth. Because of the special tools that your dentist uses, your dentist will be able to provide a deep cleaning that will help to remove all of the plaque and tartar from your mouth. This process is called scaling, as it uses a small metal hook that’s used to scrape off the buildup present in your mouth. While most people can become terrified of this tool, it’s one of the only effective ways of cleaning the plaque and tartar buildup. After polishing and flossing, your mouth will become fresh, clean, and healthy.
Why Should You Visit The Dentist?
Because at-home dental care cannot completely remove the build-up of plaque and tartar, visiting your dentist will allow you to get a deep cleaning that’s refreshing and healthy. Not only will you get a fresh cleaning, you’ll also understand what the health of your teeth look like and also get recommendations for caring for your teeth, whether it’s through the recommendation of a certain kind of toothbrush, or getting a prescription for medication for treating a gum disease infection.
At Lifetime Dental Care, our dentist loves to care for your teeth. Dr. April J. Toyer, DDS and her team of dental practitioners in Woodbridge, VA know and understand your needs. Through professional and practical service, their team will be able to take care of your teeth, clean them properly, and make you feel comfortable and special. Call them today to schedule an appointment!
April Toyer, DDS, FAAPD
The team at Lifetime Dental Care brings a full range of services to patients in and around the Woodbridge, VA area. These four doctors bring a range of experience, diverse backgrounds, and professional knowledge together to provide families with a safe and friendly home for their oral health needs.