Tooth Check Up in Woodbridge
Regular checkups are the key to a healthy mouth for life. These thorough exams allow us to find problems early on when treatment is most successful and least invasive. At Dentistry on the Pines we stress the importance of coming in regularly because it’s always better to prevent problems than to wait until they become uncomfortable or expensive.
Before we start checking your teeth we go over your medical history and any changes in your health since your last visit. This helps us figure out how your overall health affects how you take care of your teeth. Then we do a visual exam of all your teeth to look for signs of decay, cracks, wear patterns or other problems that need to be fixed.
Most checkups include a professional cleaning which is an important part of preventive dental care. Our experienced hygienists remove plaque and tartar that builds up even when you brush and floss your teeth at home. These deposits are home to bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay so getting rid of them is crucial for healthy teeth and gums. Polishing your teeth is also part of the cleaning process. This removes surface stains and makes your teeth feel smooth and clean.
Digital radiography gives us important diagnostic information that we can’t get from just looking. These X-rays show spaces between teeth, under fillings and around tooth roots where problems can hide. Digital technology today makes pictures sharper and reduces radiation exposure so we can find problems early. We take X-rays at the right times for you based on your dental history and risk factors.
Checking the condition of your gums is an important part of any checkup. We check the health of your gums and the tissues that support your teeth by measuring the depths of the pockets around each tooth. Healthy gums have shallow pockets but if the pockets are deeper it could mean you have gum disease. Finding and treating periodontal disease early on stops it from getting worse and causing tooth loss.
Oral cancer screening is part of regular checkups that could save your life. We look closely at your lips, tongue, cheeks, throat and neck for any lumps, sores or areas that are not the right colour. These screenings are part of your preventive care regimen because early detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment for oral cancer.
Regular checks are needed on existing work to make sure it’s working and safe. We assess all your fillings, crowns, bridges and other restorations for wear, damage or decay during your checkup. Finding problems with your work early on lets you fix them before more damage and expensive replacements happen.
Bite analysis helps us find problems with alignment that could cause your jaw not to work right, your teeth to wear down or pain. We look at how your top and bottom teeth fit together and how your jaw joints move. If you don’t get your bite aligned it can cause headaches, jaw pain and too much wear on your teeth.
Teaching patients is a big part of how we do checkups. We take the time to explain what we found and give you specific advice on how to improve your dental care at home. This could mean showing you how to brush and floss correctly, recommending certain products or talking about foods that are good for your teeth.
Dental hygiene services go beyond just cleaning your teeth. They can include fluoride treatments, sealants and other ways to prevent your teeth from rotting. Our hygienists work with each patient to come up with personalized ways to avoid problems based on their unique risk factors and lifestyle.
Technology makes it easier for us to do complete and comfortable exams. We can show you exactly what we see during your checkup with intraoral cameras. This makes things clear and helps you see how healthy your mouth is. These pictures are also useful for tracking changes over time.
After your checkup the next step is to design your treatment based on what we found. If we found any problems that need to be fixed we make a full treatment plan that takes into account your preferences and schedule and puts the most important needs first. We go over each suggested treatment and talk about other options when applicable.
The frequency of checkups varies from person to person based on their risk factors and oral health. Most people should have checkups every 6 months but those with certain conditions may need to come in more often. On the other hand patients with great oral health might be able to go a little longer between checkups.
If we find gum disease during your checkup we may recommend Non-Surgical Gum Therapy. These treatments can stop periodontal disease from getting worse and get your gums healthy again without surgery.
Our Woodbridge office is a warm and welcoming place where patients can feel at ease while getting their teeth checked. We know some people get anxious about going to the dentist so we work hard to make sure every appointment is a good one that encourages patients to get regular preventive care.
Regular checkups are good for your teeth and your wallet because they stop small problems from becoming big ones that cost a lot to fix. Call Dentistry on the Pines today to book your next checkup and keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.