Dental health can vary from person to person. It is recommended to visit a dentist once or twice a year, even if your mouth is in excellent condition. This way, you can get your teeth professionally cleaned regularly and maintain excellent oral health.

Even if you don’t have any tooth pain or other dental health symptoms, you may still have dental health problems that only a dentist can diagnose. Visiting your dentist for a regular professional cleaning and checkup can help prevent problems and save on treatment costs down the road.

The dental assistant will first have a conversation with you about your questions or concerns. They usually set out a tray of dental instruments and evaluate your mouth for oral health. This step includes examining your teeth and gums, probing your gums with a metal tool to check for pockets or gaps that signal potential gum disease, cleaning and, finally, polishing and flossing your teeth.

Throughout the process, you’ll be holding your mouth open for quite a while. If your jaw gets tired or starts to hurt, you can let the dental assistant know you need a rest break. If dental X-rays are needed, your dental assistant will handle this task. If you’re a new patient to this dental office or haven’t seen a dentist in a year or two, chances are dental X-rays will be recommended. In general, dentists suggest them every one to two years, but you may need them more often depending on your oral health — for instance, if you have a history of tooth decay or other high-risk factors, such as gum disease or dry mouth.

Then the dentist will come to do a thorough oral exam and discuss any notes from the dental assistant. The exam may include assessing your bite, evaluating your teeth for potential restoration or replacement, and reviewing the X-rays for signs of tooth decay or other issues. Dental X-rays give your dentist a more complete look at your teeth, gums and supporting bone structures and can show decay or abscesses, bone loss or bone changes. They can also provide an early warning of potentially serious dental problems, giving your dentist a chance to catch them while treatment may be easier, more effective and possibly less expensive.

The dentist may also conduct a screening for oral cancer, which would likely include feeling around your jaw and neck, and inspecting your lips, cheeks, tongue, and the roof and floor of your mouth. This is an important step, as the American Cancer Society estimated that more than 54,000 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in the United States this year.

Your dentist will let you know if you should schedule any follow-up dental treatments or procedures and will answer any questions you have about the exam or your oral health. The dentist or dental assistant may also initiate therapies and may discuss a tooth-healthy diet and lifestyle adjustments that could improve your oral health.

Your overall health is important to us and we are here to care for you in a compassionate way.

Many patients will be wondering what they need to do if they chip or break a tooth outside of regular office hours. We will inform you ahead of time of our hours and what to do. Most importantly, we will be there to help with any problem that can give you a difficulty.

Studies show children can develop their first cavities by 2 years old. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends booking the first visit once their first tooth appears or, at the latest, their first birthday. This helps your dentist catch potential problems that can affect your child’s overall health and well-being as more teeth grow in overtime.