The Biannual Visit Everyone Should Make!
It's super important that you come in for a cleaning and examination at least twice a year. Six months is about the amount of time it takes to have significant changes manifest in a person's mouth. By the six month mark, there is a good chance that plaque and tartar have built up a little bit in the hard to reach areas of your mouth, so we can remove that pesky bacteria and give your teeth a new lease on clean.
Professional Cleanings
Having your teeth cleaned by a certified dentist or hygienist is critical to preventing bacterial decay that can result in cavities. When you come in to see us for your biannual checkup, cleaning is the first part of your visit.
Because bacteria can harden into an almost cement-like substance known as tartar, we use a special tool called an ultrasonic scaler to break up these accumulations of harmful bacteria. The ultrasonic scaler uses ultrasonic vibrations and a mixture of water and antibacterial to break up and wash away tartar where your daily brushing and flossing doesn't reach.
Once we are done removing bacterial buildup from your teeth, we will give them a thorough flossing and finish the cleaning process by polishing all of your teeth. Polishing teeth helps to smooth out their surfaces, making it hard for bacteria to gain purchase on your teeth. It also functions to remove surface stains and minor discolorations from your pearly whites.
Examinations
Regular examinations are critical to finding issues while they are still in the early, preventable stages. We usually take one x-ray per year to see what's going on inside of and between your teeth. Using the x-rays, we can see spots where the enamel of your teeth is wearing thin, which is usually the early signs of a cavity. We can alert you to these areas, and with some brushing and flossing, there is a good chance that you will be able to prevent the cavity from ever forming.
We don't stop at checking your teeth for cavities; we are always looking for signs of all kinds of issues that can arise in your mouth. Things like:
| • | Gum disease
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| • | Oral cancer
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| • | Gum pocket depth |
| • | Cysts |
| • | Tumors |
| • | Broken or chipped teeth |
We are passionate about saving your teeth from preventable decay and damage. Give us a call today at (971) 708-1608 to schedule your biannual cleaning and examination at our Hillsboro OR office!