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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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