How Long Does a Dental Exam and Cleaning Take?
Unfortunately, many people fear dental visits and neglect going to them even for dental exams and cleanings in Mississauga, ON. People think dental visits become essential only when they are affected by any dental issue for unknown reasons.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends dental visits for adults and children every six months for exams and cleanings. Dentists also have a similar opinion and emphasize the importance of these procedures as a preventive measure against dental conditions requiring intensive treatments. Unfortunately, people seem to think differently and put off their routine appointments to end up with cavities and gum disease issues. If you also believe similarly, you might wonder how much time you must set aside for dental exams and cleanings when you schedule your appointment with your dentist in Mississauga, ON.
Time Required for Dental Exams and Cleanings
Your entire appointment for the exam and cleaning divide into two categories. When you visit the dentist for dental exams and cleanings in Mississauga, ON, you initially undergo a comprehensive oral exam, which checks for tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and any other issues affecting your mouth. If the dentist detects any problems, they recommend treatments promptly to help avoid the issue from aggravating.
The dentist in Mississauga, ON will also discuss your lifestyle habits and diet to ensure you are not harming your dental and overall health with habits like smoking and getting a nutritious diet to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
The dentist completes the dental exam within a few minutes before handing you over to the dental hygienist for teeth cleaning.
You might think you don’t need teeth cleanings because you brush and floss your teeth as recommended by the dentist. However, are you aware of the mysterious ongoings in your mouth even after maintaining excellent dental hygiene? If not, you must consider that teeth cleaning is a beneficial procedure that helps clean, polish, and prevent severe infections in your mouth.
You can expect to spend approximately 90 minutes at the dentist’s office when undergoing dental exams and cleanings to benefit your oral health.
What Does the Cleaning Involve?
The teeth cleaning procedure is straightforward, involving the steps mentioned below.
When starting the cleaning procedure, the dental hygienist will initially indulge in plaque removal that undoubtedly builds up on your teeth. Brushing and flossing help eliminate plaque from your mouth. Unfortunately, your toothbrush and dental floss cannot reach every nook and corner of your mouth, ensuring some plaque remains untouched. Plaque is a substance constantly forming on your teeth and hardening into tartar within 48 hours. Tartar is nonremovable by brushing and flossing and requires help from a dental professional for removal.
The accumulation of plaque and tartar makes you susceptible to gum disease, which, if left untreated, progresses to a periodontal disease requiring more frequent treatments from dentists to maintain the condition. Unfortunately, periodontal disease has no cure and remains with you for a lifetime when you avoid preventive measures like dental cleanings.
After the hygienist completes plaque and tartar removal, your teeth are polished with gritty toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. The polishing eliminates any excess plaque between your teeth when you give your teeth a brighter sheen.
After the polishing, the hygienist provides a flossing demonstration to get deep between your teeth to locate trouble spots that might bleed. Whether you floss at home or not, the demonstration from the hygienist helps remove any debris from between your teeth.
After the flossing demonstration, the hygienist requests you rinse your mouth and receive a fluoride treatment to battle against cavities for several months.
Finally, the dentist in Mississauga, ON and hygienist discuss your diet, dental health, and the need for repairs or restorations for defects on your teeth and gums.
Dental exams and cleanings are not intensive, and dentists complete them within the period discussed earlier. However, if you have excess plaque and tartar buildup, you might have to endure more time at the dentist’s office. The dental professionals don’t rush with your appointment and move at a pace to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. The procedure isn’t painful but ensures that your mouth and dental health are optimal and devoid of problems that might require expensive treatments.
If you haven’t scheduled your routine visits for dental exams and cleanings, kindly do not hesitate to call Sherwood Forrest Dental today to complete this procedure to benefit your dental health.