Checkups & Cleanings
Why Are Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
Maintaining good oral health is important to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, you can help protect your oral health by seeing Richmond Hill dentist, Dr. Karthika Sarvendran, regularly for checkups & cleanings and dental hygiene. It’s recommended that most people get a dental cleaning every six months, but at Regatta Dental, we may recommend more frequent or fewer visits, depending on your dental health history.
The Hallmarks Of A Dental Checkup: What You Can Expect At Regatta Dental
In most cases, a dental hygienist will perform your dental cleaning. We have a great team of qualified dental hygienists that love working with patients of all ages. At Regatta Dental, your dental hygiene visit includes:
Examination
Both your dental hygienist and Dr. Karthika Sarvendran will examine your teeth, gums and mouth, to look for changes or signs of a problem (for example, a cavity or gum disease or early signs of oral cancer). During the examination, Dr. Sarvendran may also use a special probe to measure the “pockets” between your teeth and gums, an explorer tool to poke at your teeth and determine if any cavities are present, and a mouth mirror to get a better view of the sides and back of your teeth. If you have any visible problems, she may recommend a particular treatment or may refer you to a specialist, such as a periodontist or orthodontist, for further treatment.
Digital X-Rays
For your initial and at some of your dental visits, Dr. Karthika Sarvendran may decide to take x-rays of your teeth to look for decay, gum disease, or other dental problems. At Regatta Dental, we use digital x-Ray technology because it reduces radiation exposure by up to 90%, you can see the images in a screen in front of you right away and they are more comfortable than traditional x-rays.
Cleaning & Polishing
Your dental hygienist will use a special instrument called a hand scaler or ultrasonic dental instrument to scrape and remove the tartar from your teeth. She will then polish your teeth to remove any remaining plaque or stains, leaving your teeth bright and beautiful.
Education
After the cleaning is complete, your hygienist or Dr. Karthika Sarvendran will discuss any dental hygiene problems that were detected, and show you how to brush and floss more effectively at home, if necessary.
