Exam & cleaning
Routine visits are essential to good oral health
Prevention is one of the keys to oral health. To keep your mouth healthy, it is essential to keep good habits at home (a complete and consistent hygiene routine, a low-sugar diet, no smoking, etc.). You should also visit your dentist at Clinique dentaire Saint-Étienne regularly for an exam and a cleaning.
At these appointments, we will look after your oral health and suggest solutions and tips to help you maintain it.
The dental exam: at the heart of routine visits
Routine visits are essential to good oral health. Your dentist can check the condition of every structure of your mouth and, when signs of disease, conditions or abnormal wear are found, suggest the treatments needed to stop them and prevent them from getting worse.
What a routine exam includes
- A thorough examination of the surfaces of each tooth to detect cavities;
- A check of the condition of restorations (fillings, crowns and bridges) and dentures;
- An examination of the mucous membranes and soft tissues (tongue, lips, inside of the cheeks) to make sure there are no suspicious, potentially cancerous lesions;
- A check of the health of the gums and other periodontal tissues;
- An examination of the condition and function of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ);
- Dental X-rays to see all the structures clearly and refine the diagnosis.
Cleaning: crucial preventive care
During your visit, you also get a professional cleaning in which the dental hygienist removes all the deposits and debris in your mouth (food residue, plaque, tartar). This step is all the more important because tartar build-up (a calcified form of plaque) increases the risk of gum disease, and only thorough scaling can remove it!
Three questions about exams and cleanings
How often should I have a routine visit?
An exam and cleaning are recommended every six to twelve months. Your age, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, diet), general health and tendency to develop diseases and conditions are taken into account by the dentist to set the time between visits.
At what age do exams and cleanings start?
According to the Canadian Dental Association, the first dental visit should take place within six months of the first teeth appearing. However, complete visits (with an exam and a cleaning) generally start at age three. They should then be repeated about once a year.
Is it really necessary if my teeth are healthy?
You might think dental visits are pointless if you have no existing problems. In fact, exams and cleanings prevent many diseases and conditions from appearing and developing. They are also an opportunity to get personalized advice to help you keep your smile healthy!