Dental Check-ups and Cleaning Q&A

A regular dental visit consists of the following steps: checkup, examination, and cleaning. A general dentist such as Dr. Gill uses the patient’s regular dental checkups to stay on top of any newly formed concerns or abnormalities early on. Early detection of oral conditions will allow your dentist to provide you with treatment or preventative options to help keep your natural teeth and gums healthy for as long as possible. 

A regular dental visit is focused on preventative care of your teeth, gums and mouth. In order to do this, your dentist will ask you questions about your oral health and care, if you are experiencing any new pain or discomfort, or if you have any other concerns. X-rays might need to be taken to see if there are any signs of cavities, gingivitis, tumors, or cysts based on any symptoms you are experiencing or if it has been a few years since your last X-rays were taken. 

The checkup should also include a careful examination of your throat, face, neck and head to ensure that there are no indications of swelling, redness, or possible signs of cancer.

During the cleaning portion of your visit, the dentist will check for tartar and plaque buildup. 

Plaque is a transparent, sticky layer of bacteria that, if not correctly removed, can harden and become tartar. Unfortunately, brushing and flossing alone will not remove tartar, and if it remains on your teeth for long periods of time it can cause oral disease. Tartar can also ruin your smile if left to accumulate; its yellowish-brown appearance can discolor your teeth.

Next, the dentist will check your gums to see if they are healthy. By measuring the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums, they will be able to determine the health of your gums. 

Finally, a dental hygienist will clean and scale your teeth. Scaling is the name given to the process of removing plaque and tartar from the teeth. After this, your teeth will be polished with a gritty paste to help remove any surface stains that might have appeared on your teeth, and lastly, your teeth will be flossed to make sure all areas between your teeth are clean. 

If you are concerned about any part of your dental visit, give Dr. Gill’s office a call to discuss your concerns ahead of time. Our team can walk you through the process to answer any questions you may have.

For most people, it is recommended that you visit your oral health professional about twice a year – every six months.

You may feel that it is not necessary to visit that often because you practice excellent oral hygiene, but there are things that regular brushing and flossing cannot remove, and the eye alone cannot detect. Regular visits to the dentist help prevent plaque and tartar buildup and catch cavities and tooth decay early on.

Your dentist will provide you with their recommendation on the frequency of your visits based on your individual oral health and the condition of your teeth. Dr. Gill has extensive training and experience in many aspects of dentistry and will be able to provide you with a unique preventative plan for the long-term health and well-being of your natural teeth. 

Catch things early

You may think that brushing and flossing regularly is enough to stay on top of your dental health. The truth is that dental health professionals have special tools and techniques to see what is really going on in your mouth and can catch early signs of dental concerns that patients wouldn’t be able to detect until they are in their advanced stage.

Maximize your dental health benefits

Don’t leave money on the table! If you have insurance, take a look at what your plan’s dental health benefits cover and make the most of it. Many dentists will work within your insurance coverage for treatment plans to help you maximize your benefits.

Save time & money by avoiding further complications

By seeing your dentist regularly, you will be able to catch any potential oral health problems early on and potentially save time and money.

Ensuring your mouth stays healthy and your smile beautiful

By getting your teeth cleaned regularly by a dental hygienist, you will stay on top of plaque and tartar; they use special tools to scrape away and remove buildup.

– Brush properly
– Floss regularly
– Ideally use mouthwash
– Replace your toothbrush regularly
– Brush your tongue 
– Avoid things like smoking and sugary foods

Call Dr. Gill D.D.S. or schedule an appointment today. We are located at 7215 N First St Suite 107 Fresno CA 93720. We serve patients from Fresno CA, Clovis CA, Burness CA, Gordon CA, Calwa CA, and Easton CA.