Dental Hygiene/Teeth Cleaning

Healthy teeth require both the regular care of a dentist and the patient's cooperation to ensure that daily brushing and flossing are a way of life. Today, we can easily declare that by regularly visiting your dentist, and by following good dental hygiene, you will not suffer from unhealthy teeth and gums.

It is very important for you to understand that during your routine checkup, you will receive much more than just a cleaning. I don't know if you have ever given it much thought, but you are receiving a COMPLETE SUITE of diagnostic, preventive, and educational services specifically and individually designed to help you keep the best possible smile for a lifetime. Based upon your specific dental needs, your dental team will formulate a program designed to accomplish your dental goals. Some or all of the following procedures will be included in your Recall and Maintenance appointment.

During the DIAGNOSTIC phase of your visit we may include:

1. Reviewing and updating of your medical history.
2. Recording any changes in your prescribed medications and physical condition.
3. Updating necessary xrays to detect decay, bone loss and other oral pathologies.
4. Examining all of your teeth to detect decay, fractures or other potential problems.
5. Inspecting all existing restorations (filling and or crowns) for leakage and cracks which may result in future decay.
6. Evaluating your periodontal (gum) tissue health.
7. Checking your biting patterns.
8. Evaluating possible cosmetic alterations which you may feel will improve your smile.

The PREVENTIVE services of your visit may include:

1. Blood pressure screening (if necessary)
2. Head and neck oral cancer screening.
3. Scaling of your teeth to remove all plaque and calculus (tartar).
4. Polishing of teeth to remove all surface stains.
5. Polishing all porcelain crowns.
6. Polishing all silver restorations.
7. Flossing.
8. Application of fluoride if necessary.
9. Referral to a specialist for specific treatment if necessary. (ie. Endodontist, Periodontist or an Oral Surgeon).

The EDUCATIONAL aspect of your visit may include:

1. A tour of your mouth with our intra-oral camera and a discussion of findings.
2. Toothbrushing and flossing instructions.
3. Instructions on specific plaque-control items such as: Perio-Aid®, rubber tip, Interplak®, Rotadent®
4. Dietary discussion (if necessary).
5. Presentation of prescribed dental treatment.
6. Updating you on what's new in home care products and the latest advances in Dentistry.
7. A discussion of the recommended time periods between Recall and Maintenance visits.

We hope you can see now that your oral hygiene Recall and Maintenance visit IS MORE than just 'a cleaning'. We believe that our patients deserve the benefits of the Complete Suite of available dental services that can assist in the protection of their overall medical and dental health.

Please remember, good oral hygiene is a great habit to get into! The rewards of a Complete Suite Recall and Maintenance Appointment are a healthy dentition, a bright smile and the confidence that you have begun a program that will continue to provide benefits to you for years to come.

Tooth Brushing

The Brush To Use: Hard bristles were once recommended but are now thought to be too abrasive to the teeth and gums. We now suggest a soft, rounded-end nylon bristle brush. Be sure to discard brushes when the bristles are bent or frayed or approximately every three to four months.

How To Brush

Begin by placing the head of the brush beside your teeth, with the bristles angled against the gum line (where the teeth and gums meet). Think of the brush as both a toothbrush and a gum brush. With the bristles contacting both tooth and gum, move the brush back and forth several times across each tooth individually.

Use a short stroke and a gentle scrubbing motion, as if the goal were to massage the gum. Don't try to force the bristles under the gum line; that will happen naturally, especially with a brush that has soft, flexible bristles.

Brush the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. Then use the same short back-and-forth strokes on the inside surfaces. Try to concentrate harder on the inside surfaces; studies show they're more often neglected. For the upper and lower front teeth, brush the inside surfaces by using the brush vertically and making several gentle up-and-down strokes over the teeth and gums.

Finish up by lightly scrubbing the chewing surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. You should also brush your tongue for a fresher breath.

Flossing Instructions

With all of the wonders of modern man available to you there is no better way to clean the sides of your teeth than DENTAL FLOSS. Inexpensive, readily available and easy to use. A modern wonder, maybe not. But it is and has always been an excellent tool in the fight against dental decay and periodontal disease. There are many types of dental floss available in your local drugstore. Please speak with our hygienist regarding the best floss for your particular set of dental needs.