Dental Cleanings & Exams
Platte City, MO
Taking proper care of your mouth is essential for preventing serious oral health issues such as cavities and gum disease. Oral care starts at home. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day for the best results. However, these important steps are only part of maintaining optimal oral health. To help you keep your mouth healthy, it is also important that you have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined every six months. Platte Valley Dental Care is here to help.
CleaningsProfessional dental cleanings are performed to help you prevent the development of serious oral health issues. The ADA recommends that you have these performed at least twice a year. While this may not seem like much, there are some areas of the mouth that are harder to keep clean than others. Even if you brush and floss every day, these areas may not be cleaned effectively. This can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Cleanings help to eliminate buildup from these areas, helping to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Cleanings are a simple, straightforward procedure. We begin by scraping all surfaces of your teeth, including along and just below the gumline. We can remove even the most stubborn tartar, or calcified plaque, that cannot be brushed away at home. After your teeth have been scraped, we polish them. This is done with an electric handpiece and a dental polish that contains abrasives. The abrasives scrub the surfaces of your teeth to a beautiful, clean finish. Finally, we floss your teeth, removing any plaque and bacteria buildup from between your teeth as well as any loose debris and polish that may have collected during your cleaning. If necessary, we can complete your cleaning with a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your enamel and protect against cavity formation.
ExamsExams are typically done at the same appointment as your dental cleaning. Exams are performed to spot oral health issues in their early stages, before symptoms show. We can spot a variety of different issues, including gum disease, tooth decay, and even signs of oral cancer. By spotting issues early, we can then provide you with the appropriate treatment to restore your oral health before the issues become worse. This prevents the need for more invasive and more expensive treatments later. During your exams, we look over the visible surfaces of your teeth, checking for damage, decay, and cavities. Your gums are checked for signs of redness, swelling, and recession. If there are misalignment issues we may recommend Invisalign or other tooth straightening options. We also scan your intraoral tissues checking for abnormalities that could point toward oral cancer. In addition to a visual inspection of your mouth, dental x-rays may also be taken with our intraoral camera. If you come in for a dental emergency we will also do a cleaning and exam to prevent infection.
These images allow us to see the hidden structures of your mouth. We can spot decay between teeth, root damage, developing wisdom teeth, monitor your jawbone, and check for infections. Once your mouth has been looked over, we spend the rest of your exam talking with you about your oral health. We discuss any issues that we have found and your possible treatment options. We can provide you and your family with tips on how to improve your oral hygiene routine. Our dentistry for kids offers the same services for children and youth. We also take the time to answer any questions that you have and address any concerns. If it has been a while since your last dental cleaning and exam, now is the time to make an appointment. Call Platte Valley Dental Care today at (816)858-2027.
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