Mayda Ferguson, DDSDental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings - Metairie, LA
Most dentists recommend that patients of all ages receive a dental checkup and teeth cleaning at least every six months—so, at least twice a year. This preventive measure is crucial for preventing cavities and gum disease -- the leading causes of tooth loss in middle aged American adults. What does your dentist look for during this your routine dental appointment? What can you expect during your dental cleaning? Let’s take a closer look at these and other important questions related to dental checkups and teeth cleanings in Metairie.
What to Expect During Your 6 Month Dental Appointment
The goal of your regular dental checkup is to look for potential problems, and to catch them during their earliest stages to prevent larger dental issues. This way, Dr. Ferguson can help you treat your problem in the most conservative, non-invasive way possible. Dr. Ferguson performs a visual dental exam of your mouth and may also take dental x-rays. These measures will help your dentist to view the inner and outer workings of your mouth, preventing large amounts of tooth decay, keeping an eye out for signs of oral cancer, and discovering the earliest signs of gum disease.
Here’s what Dr. Ferguson is looking out for during your six-month dental checkup:
- Symptoms of tooth decay or cavities.
- Signs of gum disease, including red, swollen, tender gums, receding gums and bleeding during your dental cleaning.
- Wear and tear on any existing dental work (crowns, bridges and fillings).
- Signs of oral cancer that would otherwise go unnoticed.
What a Dental Cleaning Includes
Before Dr. Ferguson performs your thorough dental exam, one of our helpful dental hygienists will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. This is the portion of your biannual visit that leaves you with that clean mouth feeling we all love after a trip to the dentist.
During the dental cleaning, your hygienist at the moment will remove the plaque and tartar that have had the chance to build up since your last visit to our dental office. Although plaque is soft and easy to remove with simple brushing and flossing, you need to remove tartar with the help of professional dental tools. When plaque isn’t thoroughly cleaned off it quickly turns to tartar, the yellow, hardened substance that sits at the gum line and between teeth.
Plaque and tartar buildup are known causes of gum disease, which is also the leading contributor to tooth loss in adults older than 35 years of age. For good dental and oral health, it’s crucial to schedule and keep these appointments with your local dentist.
Get the Preventive Dental Care You Need Today
Sometimes, adults avoid visiting the dentist simply because it’s been a long time since their last checkup and cleaning. They want to make sure your smile is in good condition! We want you to know that a good dental team will never judge or shame you for falling behind on your preventive dental care - and Second Line Family Dentistry certainly won’t make you feel uncomfortable either. If it’s been more than six months since your last dental checkup and teeth cleaning, or if you can’t remember the last time you had your teeth professionally attended to, your smile doesn’t deserve to wait another day! Contact us as soon as possible.
