What’s Included in a Dental Checkup

at Balanced Dental Studio in Lakewood, CO?

If you’ve scheduled an appointment for a dental checkup at Balanced Dental Studio in Lakewood, CO, you’re taking an important first step in improving your oral health—and, in turn, your overall health. Here’s how to prepare for your appointment and what to expect when you arrive at our dental office.

How do I prepare for my Lakewood, CO

dentist appointment?

The best way to prepare for your dental appointment is to:

1
Brush and floss your teeth before you arrive
2
Make notes of any concerns you wish to discuss
3
Take note of changes to your medical history or medications you’re taking

This allows us to provide you with the best possible and accurate care.

A Dental Exam

During your exam, we look at your teeth and gums for potential problems that are in need of immediate attention, such as tooth decay and gum disease. By catching issues early, it’ll allow you to avoid painful cavities, gum infections, and more. We’ll also look for abnormalities such as lumps in your face, neck, and jawline. A medical history review is also important so we can determine if new medical conditions or medications might affect your treatment plan or oral health.

Dental Cleanings

The next part of a dental appointment is the professional cleaning, which removes plaque and tartar buildup that regular flossing and brushing can’t clean. It also includes scaling, which is a process that removes stubborn plaque and tartar from your teeth.

X-rays

X-rays are an important tool for dentistry as they help us detect issues we can’t see with the naked eye during the exam. We take an x-ray of the area below the gum line and teeth so that we can diagnose problems. For example, we can see if your wisdom teeth are impacted, which can damage your jawbone, or if you have any cysts, tumors, tooth decay, or abscesses.

Once we complete your exam, x-rays, and cleaning, we will explain any issues you have and recommend a treatment plan. Our hygienist will also offer tips to improve your at-home oral care regime.

What does a dental cleaning include?

1
Listening to your concerns about your gum health and overall oral health
2
A thorough examination using measurements, digital x-rays, and clinical evaluation
3
Determining what type of cleaning is best for your individual gum health
4
Removal of plaque and tartar, polishing, and use of a healing laser if needed

In the case where we spot trouble areas with more build-up of plaque and tartar, we’ll offer tips on the proper brushing and flossing technique, as well as discuss the best toothpaste and oral care tools for your particular needs.

What should I do between

dental checkups?

Once you leave our office, it’s important to take our advice and follow the instructions we provide. This can be as simple as ‘keep up the good work’, or more complicated with advice on using special tools to help reduce plaque buildup.

We also might provide recommendations on the best toothpaste to use. For example, if you suffer from tooth sensitivity, we’ll recommend a sensitive formula. Ideally, you should be brushing with a hydroxyapatite toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily. Depending on your risk for dental decay, our team may recommend a fluoride treatment to further strengthen your enamel. This is the best way to reduce plaque buildup which leads to tooth decay and possibly gum disease. Good oral health can also include using mouthwash to help reduce plaque bacteria and provide fresh breath.

Why is a dental checkup important?

Dental checkups are not only important for your oral health, but also for your overall health. Here’s why dental checkups help keep you healthy:

Oral Cancer Detection

As mentioned above, during your dental exam we look for issues with your teeth and gums. However, what you might not realize is that dentists also look for serious diseases, including oral cancer. We are trained to look for oral issues. With consistent six-month checkups, you greatly reduce the odds of a disease such as oral cancer getting too advanced. Because you might not pay close attention to the inside of your mouth, we have a better chance of catching abnormalities if we see you frequently.

Reduce Dental Costs

With regular exams and cleanings, your dental care remains more affordable as you stop any decay from progressing. As a result, you reduce the risk for dental pain and costly restorations like root canals or crowns.

Head, Neck, and Lymph Node Checks

Along with our oral cancer check, we also do a thorough exam of your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes for abnormalities. Things such as swollen lymph nodes could indicate possible cancer and other serious diseases. When you visit our office every six months, you reduce the risk of serious conditions going undetected for too long. If we see any potential issues, we will recommend you see the proper medical professional to diagnose serious diseases.

Reduce Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities

This is an obvious reason you should be seeing our team twice a year. We make sure your brushing and flossing practices are doing their job. We look for issues such as plaque buildup, tartar, cavities, and more. The problem with plaque is that it can be tricky to remove from areas along the gum line, as well as in between teeth. In these areas, it is more likely to harden and turn into tartar, which can’t be removed by a toothbrush or floss. This is where our cleanings come in—to get the stuff you can’t remove.

Reduce Risk for Gum Disease

Plaque and tartar buildup can also lead to gum disease. Tartar can cause infections that can lead to gum recession. In the early stages, we can treat gingivitis to avoid recession and infection before it progresses to more serious conditions such as periodontitis. Periodontitis causes bleeding, swelling, and pain in the gums and can even lead to a breakdown of the bone where your roots are connected. The more time gum disease has to progress, the more risk there is for tooth loss. Gum disease is also a very costly condition that often requires surgery and medication.

As you can see, your dental checkups not only keep your teeth and gums healthy but also keep an eye on important elements of your overall health.

We look for signs of

systemic health problems.

Many times, your mouth can show us if there are potential health problems in the rest of your body. Gum disease is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Sleep apnea and teeth grinding are directly related. Yellow teeth can show us your breathing patterns aren't correct. Loose teeth can point to osteoporosis. Dry mouth can indicate autoimmune disorders. The mouth can be a window to the rest of the body! If we see something that is concerning, we will be sure to point it out for you!

Ready to schedule an appointment for general dentistry services in Lakewood, CO?

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Are you ready to smile more, breathe freely, and live better?

We are, too! Give us a call or complete the form to schedule an appointment! We'd love to sit down and discuss how you can achieve better oral health and a beautiful, healthy smile!

Please call 303.732.8909 or use the form to request to schedule an appointment. The Balanced Dental Studio Team will then call you to confirm a date and time.