Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings West Palm Beach
The Key to Ensuring Your Smile Remains Healthy
At Palm Beach Dental Excellence, Dr. Asinmaz recommends that all patients schedule a dental checkup and teeth cleaning at our West Palm Beach dental office twice a year. That way, our team can spot cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer – all of which require timely treatment. So, if it has been more than six months since your last visit, we invite you to call our office today. We’re here to help!
Why Choose Palm Beach Dental Excellence for Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings?
- Dental Insurance Welcome
- State-of-the-Art Dental Technology
- Open Five Days a Week
Why are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
Routine dental visits are very important to maintaining both oral and overall systemic health. As we mentioned above, they play a crucial role in catching tooth decay, oral cancer, and other serious concerns in the early stages. Not only that, but they ensure that we can work quickly to resolve the problem and avoid more complex issues in the future.
As for the cleaning portion of your visits, they ensure plaque and tartar are removed from the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. In addition to giving you a more vibrant smile, this helps keep your teeth and gums decay and infection-free throughout the years.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
The examination portion of your visit will be with Dr. Asinmaz, our dedicated, experienced, and compassionate dentist. After catching up with you (or getting to know you, if this is your first visit), he will ask you a few questions about your oral health, review your latest X-rays, and complete a visual exam. In the process, he will look at each tooth, your gums, and any existing dental work you have. If he notices anything concerning, like a small cavity or signs of an infection, he will bring it to your attention and discuss your treatment options.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
During your dental cleaning, we will gently remove plaque and tartar that have built up on the surface of your teeth and along your gumline. In the process, we will let you know if we have any recommendations for you, like spending a little more time brushing your molars. When we’re done, we’ll also floss and polish your teeth, leaving you with a smile that looks and feels amazing.
Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings FAQs
Do I Still Need a Dental Cleaning If I Brush and Floss Every Day at Home?
Yes! Even with meticulous brushing and flossing at home, certain areas of our teeth tend to build up plaque more quickly, and there are also some areas of the teeth that dental floss and a toothbrush just can’t get to. Only specialized instruments, such as those used by our hygienists, can remove this bacterial buildup in those hard-to-get-to areas.
How Often Should I Have a Teeth Cleaning?
This is a question we get asked often. We generally place patients on recall cycles of 3, 4, and 6 months, depending on the following variables:
- Diet: A diet with elevated levels of sugar will require more frequent cleanings. Sugar is the fuel that bacteria feed off to create plaque. The more sugar you eat, the more bacteria will replicate and thrive.
- Genetics: Yes, there is a genetic component to tooth decay and gum disease. Patients who have a family history of high-risk tooth decay and/or periodontal disease should consider more frequent cleanings.
- Several dental restorations present: If you have a lot of fillings and crowns, chances are you are at a higher risk for developing tooth decay and should have your teeth cleaned more frequently.
- Healthy history: Patients who have diabetes or are immunocompromised are at a high risk of developing periodontal disease due to their decreased ability to heal.
- Smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for developing gum disease because it is a constrictor of the blood vessels. When blood vessels are constricted, they cannot get the appropriate antibodies to the gums. This lowers your body’s ability to protect against the buildup of bacteria, so now you need to have more frequent cleanings to manually remove it and prevent the destruction of your gums and jawbone.
- History of periodontal disease: Patients who have had active periodontal disease should have their teeth professionally cleaned frequently. This is because the deep periodontal pockets that have developed as a result of past bone loss are almost impossible to clean at home. You need a professional to properly clean these areas.
- Age: Generally, older patients tend to be on more medications that can cause dry mouth (xerostomia), which is a risk factor for both tooth decay and gum disease. To counteract this, more dental cleanings are needed. Older patients may also have reduced mobility, which can hamper the effectiveness of their home oral hygiene techniques.
If you’d like to learn more about how a dental cleaning works, or if you’re ready to schedule your next one, please contact our dental office today for an appointment.
I Am Scared of the Dentist. What Should I Do?
Maybe you already know the importance of routine dental checkups and teeth cleanings, but you can’t bring yourself to schedule an appointment because you struggle with dental anxiety, a fear of needles, or a sensitive gag reflex. If that’s the case, we encourage you to give us a call! That way, we can learn a little more about your concerns and determine if you’d benefit from nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation. These calming solutions have helped countless patients have the positive and comfortable experience they deserve while caring for their smiles.