Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning in Lake Katrine

Are You Looking for a Dentist for a Dental Exam in Lake Katrine and a Professional Cleaning?

If you have not visited a dentist in a long time, don’t hesitate to call us. We’ll make you feel at ease and not lecture you. We understand you’ve probably hesitated before calling us and we will be glad you’ve chosen to get your dental health back on track. If you’re a new patient, we will take a complete medical history when you arrive for your initial appointment. Please bring a list of the medications you currently take. Before your dental exam, please let your dentist know if you’ve experienced any recent changes to your teeth or gums. During your dental exam, your dentist will look for:

• Decayed, loose or cracked teeth
• Signs of gingivitis or gum disease
• Bite problems
• Lost or loose restorations
• Signs you grind your teeth
• Oral cancer early warning signs

When your exam is over, your dentist will go over the findings with you. At our practice, we like to think of our patients as partners in their oral health care. We like our patients to have a dental exam every six months. This is so we can spot small problems before they become painful and more difficult to treat. If you would like to schedule an initial exam, please contact our office. We welcome new patients.

Do Dentists Offer Both Teeth Cleanings and Gum Disease Treatment?

When you come in for your checkup, we will suggest a professional cleaning since you should have one every six months. If you don’t have plaque and tartar scraped off your teeth, it can cause cavities and gingivitis if it builds up at the gumline. Plaque is the film that builds up on your teeth and tartar is hardened plaque which turns a yellowish color. During the teeth cleaning, your dental hygienist will also polish your teeth so they will have a nice smooth finish free of surface stains. Your teeth will look brighter and your breath will smell fresh.

When plaque and tartar irritate your gums, you can develop gingivitis. It is the mildest form of gum disease; however, it is important to treat it right away as it can turn into periodontal disease. Gingivitis is characterized by bright red, swollen gums which bleed easily. You may notice a small amount of bleeding when you brush your teeth. If you suspect you have gingivitis, please call our office for treatment. Gingivitis can progress and turn into periodontal disease. This is when the bacteria in the plaque and tartar gets under your gums and the gum starts pulling away from the tooth. The bacteria will eat away at your tooth’s support structure, making the tooth loose. We offer treatment for periodontal disease to help our patients save their natural teeth.

How Do Dentists Cure Bad Breath?

Our dentists will help you find the cause of this embarrassing problem. In most cases, you can treat your bad breath at home after a dental cleaning. Our dentist will explain proper brushing techniques, including brushing your tongue, and recommend products that will keep bacteria from harboring in your mouth. Our dentist will also examine your teeth and gums to rule out untreated decay or gum disease which can cause bad breath. If you smoke, quitting will make your breath fresher. You can also chew sugarless gum if your mouth is always dry. You need saliva to wash away bacteria and food particles to keep your breath fresh. Please call our office if you’re tired of masking your bad breath with mints.

Is an Oral Cancer Screening Necessary?

We believe a screening for oral cancer is essential every time one of our adult patients has a routine dental exam. Oral cancer, one of the world’s most common cancers, has a low survival rate because it’s often not detected until it spreads and causes symptoms. We wouldn’t want any of our patients to be a part of this statistic, so we’re adamant about the importance of screenings. Just because your dentist suggests a screening does not mean the dentist believes you have oral cancer. The five-minute screening is non invasive. Your dentist will visually inspect your oral cavity and feel for lumps. You may have had a screening in the past and not known it. Our dentist will also talk to you about the risk factors, which include smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and the HPV virus. If you haven’t had a screening in the past year, please call our office to arrange one as part of your dental exam.

If you need a dental exam in Lake Katrine. please call us at (845) 512-1230 to schedule an appointment.