How Do Dental Checkups Impact Your Oral Health

A dental checkup is a preventive service in which a dentist examines your teeth for signs of decay and disease. During your checkup, you also will receive professional cleanings that will help remove plaque buildup from your smile and improve your overall oral health.

When you are at your regular exams and cleanings, your dentist can closely monitor the health of your teeth and gums. This can help you prevent serious oral health concerns and help you maintain excellent oral wellness for life.

How Often Should I Schedule a Dental Checkup?

Depending on your unique oral health and risk factors, we may recommend a slightly different schedule for routine checkups and cleanings. However, most patients should plan to attend at least two visits per year for preventive services. These appointments help us detect and treat minor issues before they develop into major problems requiring extensive restorative treatment.

In addition to scheduling biannual visits for cleanings and exams, you should watch for any signs of potential oral health problems in between visits to the dentist. If your gums are swollen or bleed when you brush and floss your teeth, for example, this could indicate a more serious problem such as gum disease.

What Are the Options for Advanced Dental Checkups?

If you are worried about the condition of your teeth, there are some advanced dental exams that your dentist can use to take a closer look. Here are some of the most common options to consider:

X-ray: This is the most common initial method used for dentistry because it can help the dentist see into areas where the naked eye cannot identify a problem. It is often used to check for impacted teeth and cavities that are hiding below the surface of the teeth.

Intraoral camera: This specialized tool allows the dentist to get a closer look at your mouth and face during a routine checkup. The camera can be inserted into the mouth and moved around to view different angles of your smile. It offers a more up-close view than a traditional mirror, especially in areas where the mirror may not have enough focus to see clearly.

Oral cancer screening: Early detection of oral cancer is the best way to ensure a full recovery from this serious condition. The dentist can perform an oral cancer exam to look for any unusual lesions or discolorations in the gums, lips, and other areas of the oral cavity.

Periodontal evaluation: Gum disease affects over 50% of adults in the US today. If your gums look red or bleed easily during brushing and flossing, you may be at risk for gum disease. An annual periodontal evaluation can check the health of the gums and determine if you are at risk. If you do have gum disease, we can often treat the condition with non-surgical procedures such as deep cleaning or scaling and root planing.

Call us at 773-880-2310 or email us at office@sheffieldsquaredental.com to schedule your appointment. Visit Sheffield Square Dental Care at 2835 N. Sheffield Ave, Suite 305, Chicago, IL 60657.