Maintaining your oral health is equally as important as maintaining your overall health. Seeing your dentist twice a year is perhaps the most important step you can take to ensure that any problems are caught and taken care of long before they worsen. Although the generally accepted norm for dental checkups is every six months, your dentist in Chicago Illinois may suggest that you see him or her more or less frequently, all depending on the state of your oral health.
What to expect during your checkup:
In most dental practices a routine checkup involves both the dentist and an oral hygienist. Not every dentist performs a checkup in exactly the same manner but they typically include:
- Professional cleaning: Some dental hygienists use a special tool called a scaler while others use ultrasound to clean the plaque and tartar off the surfaces of your teeth. Once the cleaning has been completed, a small rotating rubber cup with polishing compound is used to remove any last traces of plaque and to polish your teeth.
- Pointers for you: After your teeth have been cleaned and polished the dental hygienist will discuss any issues that were detected. If it is felt necessary, the hygienist will also show you the most effective way to brush and floss.
- Examination: Your dentist in Chicago Illinois will now take over. The dentist will also closely examine your oral cavity looking for any signs of decay or other potential problems that need attention. If during the oral exam, the dentist finds problems he or she will recommend a particular treatment or course of treatments or perhaps refer you to a specialist.
- X-Rays: It is not unusual for your dentist to take one or more X-Rays to ensure there are not problems which are not yet visible.
To get the most out of your visit to your dentist in Chicago Illinois tell him or her about any new issues that you have noticed since your visit six months ago.
It is extremely important that you see your dentist in Chicago Illinois at least twice a year. For a professional cleaning and routine examination, you are invited to contact Chicago Smile Design.
