What Happens During a Dental Cleaning
Your oral health has never been more critical. Periodontal (gum) disease has linked to other health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Dentists and physicians alike now understand the oral-systemic connection, which proves that our oral health positively affects our overall health. Your regular cleaning and check-up appointments are your first line of defense against periodontal disease and other oral health issues. Your dentist in Yuma, AZ discusses what happens during a dental cleaning.
Screening For Oral Health Concerns
Believe it or not, your dentist can detect issues like tooth decay, oral cancer, and gum disease much earlier than you can. It is because there’s not a lot of symptoms or pain associated with these issues until their more advanced stages. Your dentist will screen you for these issues at every dental cleaning and checkup, which are recommended twice per year. The earlier you detect these concerns, the better your chances are of treating them with the least invasive and costly procedures.
Removing Plaque Build Up
During your dental cleaning procedure, your hygienist will remove the excessive plaque that builds upon and in between your teeth. Plaque is what causes tooth decay by eating away at your enamel and leaving holes to be filled in your teeth. Excessive plaque buildup can also create your gums to separate from your teeth letting harmful bacteria below your gum line, and this when gum disease occurs. If left untreated, gum disease in its advanced stages causes damage to your bone and can eventually lead to tooth loss.
The good news is that gum disease can treat in its early stages with a thorough cleaning and improved home care. For some patients, it may even reverse. It is why regular periodontal screenings with your hygienist are so important.
Partners in Oral Health
At Yuma Smiles, Dr. Sam Carroll and his highly skilled team want to be your partners in achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. We believe that prevention is the best medicine when it comes to your oral health and we’re well equipped to help you with any dental concerns that may arise. Your oral health is too important to ignore, contact our dental clinic in Yuma AZ today to schedule your next dental cleaning appointment. Learn how we make you feel comfortable at our office.
