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 Your regularly scheduled check-up is
often referred to as a "cleaning", but there
is much more to it than that! The technical term is
oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of
oral disease.
One way to prevent oral disease is to
remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus) both above
and below the gum line. You may also be given special
instructions on brushing or flossing to keep clean
the areas where we found significant buildup. That
is the familiar "cleaning" part of your
checkup.
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It's easy to tell which tooth has
been "cleaned" in this photo!
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Another way to prevent oral disease is by early detection
and treatment. During your checkup you will be screened for many
potential threats to your oral health, including:
In addition, some systemic diseases, such as diabetes, often present
themselves first inside the mouth, so early detection extends beyond
just oral disease.
Your Dental Hygienist is your first-line of defense against oral
disease. Your hygienist is a highly trained professional who can
evaluate your teeth and gums, both visually and with the assistance
of x-rays and other modern technology, to discover threats to your
oral or general health. Your dentist will review the findings of
your hygienist and advise you on any threats to your oral or general
health.
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