Dental Exams And Cleanings: The First Line of Defense
Prevention is the best protection against oral disease and oral health issues. Dr. Ye of Boston Post Dental & Implants in Sudbury offers dental exams and cleanings to protect and improve your oral health. Dental exams and cleanings are the key features of general or preventive dentistry. General dentistry focuses on preventing oral disease or catching it as soon as possible for improved treatment and better oral health.
If it’s been a while since your last round of dental exams and cleanings, don’t worry. Dr. Ye is accepting new and returning Sudbury, MA patients as well as patients from surrounding areas such as Wayland, Cochituate, and Marlborough, MA. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of routine dental exams and cleanings.
What to Expect From Dental Exams and Cleanings
Routine dental exams and cleanings allow Dr. Ye to ascertain your level of oral health, determine your needs, and develop treatment plans to address any issues as necessary. Cleanings help remove plaque and bacteria to help protect against oral disease and even help brighten your smile. By attending your routine dental exams and cleanings, you help prevent the need for more invasive, costly treatments in the future. Here’s what you can usually expect from a routine dental exam:
Medical Questions
During a routine dental exam, Dr. Ye will review your medical history and ask you questions regarding your oral health and hygiene routine. He’ll listen to any concerns you may have about your oral health and be sure to pay special attention to any areas you identify as possibly causing you issues.
The Dental Exam
Dr. Ye will thoroughly examine your mouth, lips, jaw, and every other part of your oral structure. Examining allows him to look for signs of possible diseases such as gum disease and cavities. He’ll also feel your jawbone to look for signs of misalignment or TMD disorders such as clicking sounds when you bite down. If Dr. Ye discovers anything that may indicate a problem, he can perform more thorough examinations that day or at a later date to investigate and produce an accurate diagnosis.
Oral Cancer Screening
Additionally, Dr. Ye will perform an oral cancer screening. This screening allows Dr. Ye to specifically look for signs of possibly cancerous and precancerous growths. Oral cancer screenings may involve specially designed tools such as dye, light, and biopsies. When oral cancer is caught early, treatment is much more effective.
Diabetes Screening
While he’s examining your mouth, Dr. Ye will also check for signs of diabetes. Diabetes can produce symptoms such as halitosis (bad breath) which smells strangely sweet or fruity, gum disease, or even jawbone density loss (resorption).
Cleanings
Once Dr. Ye is done with the exam portion of your visit, our hygienist will polish and floss each tooth and scrape away debris and buildup. This professional cleaning will brighten your smile better than a simple toothbrush and toothpaste will. It will also help remove plaque and tartar, which can cause oral health issues such as gum disease if not removed.