Lubbock, Texas
Dental Exams + Cleanings
Preventing problems before they develop.
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing and flossing, is one of the best ways to keep your smile at its best. It’s also essential to visit your dentist for routine dental exams and cleanings. Even if you don’t have any oral health concerns, preventive dental care can help you enjoy a healthy, confident smile for a lifetime.
How Often Should You Schedule Your Regular Dental Visits?
Dental professionals agree that, in general, individuals with healthy teeth and gums should visit the dentist for exams and cleanings every six months. However, if a patient has periodontal (gum) disease or is at risk of developing dental problems, more frequent dental care may be necessary. The American Dental Association recommends that patients work closely with their dentists to determine whether risk factors are present to warrant more frequent dental visits.
What Is the Importance of Preventive Dental Care?
Routine dental exams and cleanings are preventive measures that are critical to the upkeep of your general oral health. They provide an excellent opportunity to detect and treat any dental problems before they progress and cause complications that may require extensive dental procedures down the road. Moreover, removing plaque and tartar deposits during your regular cleaning helps prevent a host of oral health problems, including bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and even tooth loss.
What Can You Expect During Your Dental Visit?
Here’s a look at what you can expect during a routine dental visit:
Medical and Dental History Review: We’ll ask you about any new health conditions or medications and any new dental health concerns.
Dental X-Rays: We will take diagnostic x-rays to see any problems that may have developed since your last dental exam, such as new decay, bone loss, tumors, or other potentially serious concerns.
Physical Examination: We will conduct a tooth-by-tooth examination to evaluate the health of your teeth and restorations and ensure they are free of decay or damage. Next, we’ll check your gums for signs of periodontal disease. An essential component of your physical exam is an oral cancer screening to rule out abnormalities. Identifying and treating oral cancer in its earliest stages ensures the best possible outcomes.
Dental Cleaning: After removing plaque and hardened tartar using special dental instruments, our dental hygienist will use a gritty polisher to shine and smooth your teeth and remove some surface stains. Next is expert flossing to remove any remaining plaque or debris. We may also recommend a fluoride treatment to strengthen the tooth enamel and lower the risk of future decay.
Next Steps: We will wrap up your visit by discussing the next steps needed to improve or maintain your oral health. We will work with you to create a custom treatment plan outlining any urgent restorative needs or recommended preventive measures.
Dental Exams and Cleanings Near Me in Lubbock, TX
At Dentist of Lubbock, we make every effort to ensure our valued patients enjoy positive, comfortable, and relaxing care. Our highly skilled and compassionate team is committed to helping you and your family achieve and maintain long-lasting oral health.
If you reside in Lubbock, TX, or the surrounding areas, we invite you to call (806) 370-2005 to schedule your appointment or request one online today.