Regular dental check-ups in Melbourne are needed to keep the teeth and gums healthy. The Australian Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist at least once a year, but visiting once every six months can prevent oral problems.
Prevention is a feature of modern dentistry. This can take many forms such as encouraging patients to brush and floss, eat a healthy diet, use fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, etc… In the dental office, prevention is usually a semi-annual examination and dental treatment. There is prophylaxis (or “prophylaxis”). You may want to use calm language, including a professional cleaning of your teeth, which is known as “the check-up” or “six-month recall.”
The basic components of a 6-month visit include:
- Review and update your dental and medical history
- blood pressure check
- oral cancer screening
- Examination of the teeth and gums to check for cavities or other infections
Radiographic examination: Digital X-ray is the standard of care. Routine X-rays do not pose any health risk to the patient. Research and science have proven this. Dentists show and explain to patients exactly what they want.
Oral prophylaxis: Professional oral hygiene by polishing your teeth and following certain oral hygiene instructions.
During the appointment for dental Melbourne, the dentist will review all findings and X-rays, make any necessary diagnoses and recommend treatment.
Reasons why you should visit every 6 months:
- Prevent Plaque: Plaque is a sticky deposit that sticks to your teeth and gums and is full of harmful bacteria. When plaque builds up, it causes tooth discoloration, tooth decay, and gum problems. A visit to the dentist every six months can keep your teeth clean and healthy and prevent these complications.
- Prevent tooth decay: Dentists can diagnose tooth decay early. When the cavity is small, it is much easier to fix. By delaying your visit, small cavities will enlarge and eventually damage the root canal treatment, crown and your teeth. This includes more treatment, chair side time and cost.
- Prevent gum disease: Dentists can prevent the first signs of gum disease before they turn into serious complications. If left untreated it can cause pain, swelling, bone loss, unstable teeth and eventually tooth loss.
- Save money: Detecting oral problems early can save you a lot of money in the long run. Regular care and maintenance of your teeth reduces the chances of developing complex conditions.
- Improve your smile: During your regular check-up, dental clinics have tons of treatments available that will whiten, brighten, straighten and clean your teeth and give you that million-dollar smile!
What happens during your dental visit?
During a dental checkup, a dental professional will examine your cavity. X-rays may be taken to look for cavities between your teeth. The exam will also include checking for plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar by brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, it can lead to oral diseases.
Next, your gums will be examined. This will be done with a special instrument to measure the depth of the space between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces can become darker.
The check-up should also include a careful examination of your tongue, throat, face, head and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble – swelling, redness, or possible signs of cancer.
Your teeth will also be brushed during your dental visit Melbourne. Brushing and flossing help clean plaque from your teeth, but you cannot remove tartar at home. During the cleaning, your dentist will use special tools to remove the tartar. it’s called scaling
What you should do between each dental visit?
Be sure to take care of your teeth and gums in between regular dental visits. You always have plaque on your teeth, but you can control it by brushing and flossing regularly. Here are some tips for good oral care at home.
Regular dental visits are important because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. During the dental check-up, your dentist will check your overall oral health for any problem areas. During the cleaning, your dentist will remove any plaque and tartar and may polish your teeth. You should have regular dental visits at least twice a year or as suggested by your dentist.
