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Oklahoma's Dental Care Services
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Cleanings and Exam
Dental Exam
It's important to see your dentist regularly. Dental exams help us find and take care of small problems before they become major issues. Let's take a few minutes to learn more about these exams.
A comprehensive dental exam will be performed by your dentist at your initial dental visit. The comprehensive exam includes the following:
CBCT 3D x-ray is a way of getting images of the inside of your teeth and jaws
Examination of diagnostic X-rays (radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
Oral cancer screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
Gum disease evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
Examination of existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.
A periodic dental exam will be performed at a periodic interval after the comprehensive exam and cleaning. At regular check-up (periodic )exams, your dentist and hygienist will perform the same evaluation as the comprehensive exam except x-rays might be skipped if you are not a high Caries Risk patient.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis) are usually performed by Registered Dental Hygienists. Your cleaning appointment typically will include a dental exam and the following:
Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.
Look for any signs of gum disease: For a healthy mouth, you need healthy gums. Your gums protect the bones and tissues that support your teeth. But bad oral hygiene opens your gums to an infection we call "gum disease." And this leads to serious dental problems.
Evaluate progression of previous gum disease for those that have had periodontitis: The dental hygienist will probe around each tooth looking for pockets of buildup leading to active infection.
When the evaluation determines that active periodontal disease is present, a deep cleaning is warranted to arrest this periodontitis. This is known as scaling and root planing (SRP) or deep cleaning.
Provide Oral Health Instruction (OHI) on how to brush, floss, eat a healthy diet, stop smoking/dipping, control diabetes to prevent periodontitis among other topics unique to each patient.
