What’s Involved In an Oral Exam?

There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye when you make a routine visit for an examination and cleaning. And while every practice may use a different procedure, the outcome is what matters.

Most visits begin with a quick history.

What’s different? What medications are you taking? Do you have any concerns about your oral health? These and other questions help raise issues that the dental team will be mindful of during the course of your exam.

Once you’ve discussed your health history, he or she will perform a visual inspection of your mouth, teeth and surrounding tissues. An instrument called an “explorer” helps the dentist inspect each tooth and uncover any area for concern:

• Check for tooth and root decay
• Evaluate the health of your gums
• Check your bite and jaw for problems
• Evaluate for risk of oral health problems
• Check face, neck and mouth for abnormalities
• Look for signs of oral cancer
• Check your cheeks, lips and under your tongue
• Discuss lifestyle, diet and oral hygiene habits
• If necessary take dental X-rays
• Assess your need for tooth restoration

A thorough, professional cleaning is an important part of your visit.

Guided by a small mirror, the hygienist uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar. You’ll hear a scraping sound as the space between your teeth and gum line is cleaning. While this is usually the least favourite part of the exam, tarter build up is preventable. How? Regular flossing.

With your teeth tartar-free, the hygienist will use a high-powered electric brush and gritty toothpaste to polish your teeth. This is followed by an expert flossing and rinse to complete the cleaning process.

Professional teeth cleanings are generally recommended twice a year.

For more details about Dental Clinic in Toongabbie,(Toongabbie Dentist) contact our clinic on: (02) 86779094 or visit our website: https://www.paynlessdental.com.au/

You probably call it a cavity. We call it tooth decay or dental caries. They’re basically names for a hole in your tooth.

You’ve probably heard that cavities are caused from eating sweets and consuming sugary drinks. While those will likely expand your waistline, there’s more to tooth decay than just consuming sugar.

The Kissing Disease?

It’s no surprise that your mouth is a bacterial jungle, home to 200 to 300 different species. Thankfully, only a limited number are the cause of dental cavities and periodontal disease.

In fact, most bacteria in our bodies are harmless. Many are even essential for digesting our food and other bodily processes. These are tiny organisms. Most measure a mere 1/500th the width of a human hair.

The bacteria that cause tooth decay are always looking for a new home. Consider the side effects of a passionate 10-second kiss with your sweetheart (pun intended). It can spread 80 million bacteria between mouths.

Say hello to Streptococcus mutans.

Attacking The Roots

Streptococcus mutans, also known as S mutans, along with lactobacilli, consume sugars and excrete lactic acid. It’s the lactic acid that is the real culprit when it comes to tooth decay.

S mutans and other bacteria reside on the dental biofilm (plaque) on tooth surfaces. The acid they produce from consuming sugar causes demineralisation, softening that area of the tooth, leading to a loss of calcium and phosphate from the enamel.

As the enamel on a tooth surface loses minerals, the weakened enamel collapses to form a cavity and the tooth is progressively destroyed. The acid can also attack the roots of teeth should they become exposed from gum recession.

Low Tech Solution

Thankfully, saliva acts to dilute and neutralise the acid. Aside from buffering plaque acids and halting the demineralisation of enamel, saliva provides a reservoir of minerals adjacent to the enamel from which it can remineralise and “heal” once the acids have been neutralised.

What can stop this bio-chemical reaction in its tracks?

Simple brushing and flossing. Together, these two home care procedures have been shown to be unusually effective at slowing, stopping and even reversing the effects of S mutans.

Relax knowing that if you ever get behind in this never-ending battle with these and other bacteria, we stand ready to help. A professional cleaning can restart the clock and at least temporarily disrupt the plans of S mutans.

Overdue? Book an appointment now for a thorough examination and a professional cleaning.

For more details about Dental Clinic in Toongabbie, contact our clinic on: (02) 86779094 or visit our website: https://www.paynlessdental.com.au/