Dental cleanings can give many people serious anxiety. People tend to avoid going to the dentist out of fear that the visit may hurt, or anxiety that they may require extensive follow up treatments. Dental cleanings are extremely important to the health of your mouth, however; and should not be avoided. Regular checkups help keep your teeth healthy and allow the dentist to find and fix minor issues before they turn into major problems.
Dr. Kevin of BaaBee Dentistry in Las Vegas knows that dental cleanings aren’t fun. That’s why they strive to create an atmosphere where patients can feel as comfortable as possible. The staff is friendly, the office is inviting, and everyone’s top priority is quality patient care. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, it may be helpful to be reminded why dental cleanings are so important.
X-rays Are An Important Step
When you visit the offices of BaaBee Dentistry for a cleaning, the first professional you will encounter is a dental hygienist. The job of the dental hygienist is to perform the actual cleaning of the teeth, take your annual x-rays, and help you understand how to care for your teeth at home.
You may wonder why dentists take x-rays of your teeth. They are helpful for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they help the dentist catch small areas of decay that you may not see or feel yourself. These tiny spots aren’t even visible to the dentist or hygienist as they examine your mouth. X-rays expose these areas and allow the dentist to fix them before they develop into serious problems.
X-rays also allow the dentist to see the jaw bones and joints, the condition of your sinuses, and the bite structure of your mouth. If any of these areas of your mouth and face are improperly aligned, injured, or otherwise damaged, they can cause you pain or create other problems for your teeth down the road.
Dental x-rays do not hurt. You will be asked to sit very still and bite on film while the hygienist takes the photos, but the machines are neither noisy nor painful. If you are pregnant or undergoing treatment for cancer, you should alert the hygienist at the start of your visit. X-ray machines do emit very low levels of radiation, so you may be exempt.
Anatomy Of A Dental Cleaning
When it is time to begin the cleaning, the hygienist will use professional equipment to clean and polish your teeth. These professional instruments remove plaque and tartar buildup that brushing and flossing simply can’t handle on their own.
The first tool you will encounter is loud, but not painful. It is an ultrasonic tool that creates vibrations on the teeth to remove tartar. The surface is smooth, and won’t scratch or damage your teeth.
If your tartar buildup is too much for the ultrasonic tool, the hygienist will manually scrape the tarter from your teeth near the gum line. Because it is manual, it does not make any noise.
Once the tartar has been removed, the hygienist will polish the teeth. Special toothpaste is applied to a small instrument that looks a lot like an electric toothbrush you may have at home. The round head moves in a circular motion, again, much like an electric toothbrush. This tool makes noise, but is not painful.
Once the teeth are polished, you can elect to have a fluoride treatment to help strengthen teeth. This is important because your teeth are porous and some of those tiny holes were once covered and filled with plaque and tartar. This fluoride treatment will soak into the pores and help prevent bacteria from entering and can prevent cavities from forming.
Throughout the course of the dental cleaning, you can ask the hygienist to explain each step. You can also ask to see and even touch the equipment to help ease any nervousness you may be experiencing. It can help to ask to hear the electric instruments before starting so that you are used to the sound. Because the instruments are held so close to your face, they will seem louder as the hygienist works. Getting a feel for the noise ahead of time may be helpful if you are anxious.
Seeing The Dentist
Once the hygienist has cleaned and polished your teeth, Dr. Kevin will come in to examine your mouth. If the hygienist took x-rays at the beginning of the visit, the doctor will closely examine any areas of your mouth that indicate decay or damage. If you require fillings or follow up treatments, he will recommend them. You are able to ask him any questions you may have about the condition of your teeth, any pain or discomfort you are feeling, and you can ask for detailed explanations of his recommendations.
The staff at BaaBee Dentistry of Las Vegas encourages all patients to ask questions and be active participants in their dental care. If you’ve missed some cleanings or you’ve been putting off visiting the dentist, contact Dr. Kevin’s office to learn more about dental cleanings.