If you’re interested in knowing more about your upcoming dental checkup, then you have come to the right blog post! Our dentist and dental team understand that our patients feel more comfortable during the exam if they know what to expect during their appointment. So, to help you prepare for your visit, here the answers to 4 frequently asked questions about dental checkups in El Paso, Texas.
Why do I need a dental exam?
Regular dental exams are a critical part of preventive dental care. During your routine dental exam, our dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and check for cavities and gum disease. The exam includes evaluating your risk of developing other oral problems and checking your face, neck, and mouth for abnormalities that could cause problems down the road.
Why are dental X-rays important?
During your six-month checkup, your dentist will thoroughly evaluate your oral health. Dental X-rays may be used to provide your dentist with a comprehensive view of your oral health. This evaluation will help our dentist detect conditions that can’t be seen with the naked eye, such as underlying tooth decay, bone loss, and other dental problems. These scans can also tell us if you have other health conditions such as bone cancer or heart disease.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Dental X-rays are safe but do require very low levels of radiation exposure, which makes the risk of potentially harmful side effects very minimal. At Patriot Family Dental, we use the latest in digital X-rays which use much lower levels of radiation than traditional X-ray machines.
What happens during the appointment?
During your initial exam our dental team will thoroughly inspect your mouth, tongue and teeth. Our dentist may order a set of dental x-rays at this time to inspect your bone structure and teeth further.
With the small mirror to see your teeth, our dental hygienist uses a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line, as well as between your teeth. You’ll hear scraping, but this is normal. The more tartar there is in your mouth, the more time they’ll need to scrape a particular spot.
After your teeth are completely plaque and tartar-free, the hygienist brushes them with a high-powered electric brush. You will also get your teeth gently flossed, polished, and given a fluoride treatment by our expert technician.
Read more about teeth cleanings:
Schedule a Dental Exam Today!
Schedule a dental exam & teeth cleaning today by calling us at (915) 260-6575, or by visiting our Contact Us page to send us an email.
