What To Expect From Your Six Month Appointment

When you see our team for an appointment every six months, we will conduct a dental checkup and cleaning. These are essential for maintaining good oral health and keeping serious concerns at bay. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about what to expect from a routine checkup and cleaning every six months.

Checkups

Your checkup is a chance to carefully examine your smile for potential signs of trouble every six months, such as tooth decay, infections, gingivitis, gum disease, or even TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). The sooner we identify these issues, the sooner we can address them with treatment. To consult a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, our team will use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. These visits benefit people of all ages, from children to adults.

Cleanings

During this visit, our team will also take time to thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar buildup from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. Removing the buildup helps protect the teeth and gums from serious issues like tooth decay and gum disease. The procedure also helps fight bad breath and stained teeth too.

Oral Cancer Screening

For adults, we will also screen for oral cancer during your examinations. In the United States, over 53,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Of that number, half typically succumb to it within five years. The reason for the high mortality rate? The disease is rarely caught in the early stages. But we can do just that if you attend your regular visits. Always let us know if in between visits you encounter sores, lesions, rough patches, or areas of red and white splotches in your mouth that don’t heal after two weeks, as well as changes to your voice or persistent sore throat.

Scaling and Root Planing

If we see you and find your gums exhibiting the warning signs of gingivitis or the early stages of gum disease, then we may recommend a deep cleaning. This is more extensive than a traditional one, and removes buildup from both the roots and the teeth. The procedure could require one visit, or up to four depending on the severity of your buildup. Afterward, we will polish the teeth and recommend traditional cleanings every three to four months to manage the disease and protect you from the late stages linked to tooth loss.

If you have any questions about these visits, or if you want to schedule one, then contact our team today.

Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About Keeping Smiles Strong

Our team wants to help your family maintain optimal oral health. For more information on preventive dentistry, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.