Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that nearly 40% of U.S. adults don’t see a dentist regularly. Certainly, some of those who forego dental visits believe that brushing and flossing at home is good enough; after all, if you feel fine, why see a doctor? The reality is that home hygiene on its own isn’t sufficient to prevent the majority of dental diseases, and that regular dental visits are a truly vital part of overall oral hygiene. Dentists visually and manually examine the oral cavity and the teeth, using x-rays and digital imaging to see inside the teeth and bone and screening for cancer and other diseases of the oral cavity. They deep clean the teeth, both above and below the gum line, removing harmful bacterial buildup and decayed tissue before treating the teeth to prevent future disease; treatment might include filling a dental cavity, sealing a tooth that’s more prone to decay, or administering fluoride treatment. As dentists examine and treat the oral cavity, they explain their findings and procedures to their dental assistant and to the patient, providing instruction for continued oral care at home. In addition to demonstrating proper brushing and flossing techniques, dentists can discuss stress reduction, dietary recommendations, smoking cessation, and any other concerns the patient may have that affect their oral health.
At a routine dental checkup, a dentist or dental hygienist, or both, will examine your mouth, checking the soft tissues inside the gums and cheeks and evaluating the teeth to assess the oral hygiene and identify any tooth decay or softened dental enamel. Using specialized instruments to gauge the integrity of the dental enamel and the gums, your dentist will measure the pockets between your gums and teeth to learn whether bone tissue has deteriorated because of gum disease. During your examination, your dentist will evaluate your bite with dental articulation paper, noting any abnormalities, and they will also screen you for oral cancers; it’s not uncommon for these cancers to be detected by dentists before any other medical provider. For this cancer screening, your dentist will grasp your tongue with gauze, lifting and moving your tongue to visually assess the entire oral cavity and spot any abnormalities before externally palpating the jaw and neck.
When a child visits the dentist, at each repeat visit the dentist or dental hygienist will monitor the child’s dental development, making referrals to an orthodontist if needed. Both children and adults have x-rays taken at dental appointments; these images help reveal interdental cavities and areas of weakened or diminished bone, and, for juvenile patients, they aid in the consistent monitoring of jaw and tooth development. Usually, the dental hygienist takes the x-ray, and not the dentist. Dental hygienists also clean the teeth, scaling away hardened plaque, called tartar, with specialized dental instruments before polishing the dental enamel. It’s not uncommon to receive a fluoride treatment to help prevent cavities after a professional dental cleaning, though these treatments are more frequently used in children than adults. Many patients also have sealants applied to their teeth following a cleaning, specifically on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, to prevent tooth decay. Sealants are most often used as a preventative measure in children and teens, though adult patients who’ve never had a cavity in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
