The recommendation from the dental community reins the same for the smallest mouth to those in retirement: practice good oral hygiene and visit your provider twice each year for good mouth health.
Because oral health is so closely related to general wellness, visiting the dentist concerns more than just examining the teeth. Oral health is one rung of many involved in self-care, ultimately leading to overall well-being. When neglected, you can run the risk of developing problems in other areas of your health.
Partnering with the most suitable dentists in Auckland, St Heliers, will help keep your teeth and gums as healthy and strong as possible while you maintain adequate hygiene at home, including brushing twice each day, flossing, and using mouth rinse.
When Do You Need to See Your Dental Provider
While the recommendation is to see your St. Heliers, Auckland, dentist roughly every six months, there are times when you’ll need to visit more frequently due to special circumstances.
While twice a year is satisfactory for most people, the dentist sometimes needs to monitor certain patients’ oral health a bit more closely. For instance, periodontal maintenance is a priority when a client suffers from gum disease.
These individuals need to be checked every three months in an effort to keep the teeth tartar and plaque-free. With cavity-prone kids, the dentist will ask that they come in more often to receive routine fluoride treatments besides standard checkups.
Patients using Invisalign need their progress consistently checked to ensure the shifting is happening as it’s supposed to. These patients can come as regularly as every six weeks.
Learn how to take care of your teeth and achieve good oral health at https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/o/oral-health-taking-care-of-your-teeth/.
What Happens with the Biannual Visit
Typically, patients are seen every six months to undergo a thorough exam and teeth cleaning. When the dentist performs the dental exam, the objective is to find minor issues and arrange to have these corrected before they turn into major problems.
When an issue is caught in the early stages, there’s a better chance of containing the issue in the case of decay or recovering from the problem if there’s gum disease. The primary goal is to prevent these things from occurring instead of finding solutions.
- The dental exam
With the exam, the provider will check each tooth thoroughly to note possible decay, restorations remain intact, and periodontal disease is not a concern. The dentist will use a special tool to measure the pocket depth between the teeth and gums when assessing for periodontal disease.
The jawbone and beneath the gum line are evaluated via digital X-rays once each year, and an oral cancer screening is performed to rule out cancers in the mouth, tongue, or throat.
- The dental cleaning
While brushing at home is critical, twice each day, flossing and mouth rinse, the likelihood of particles and plaque remaining on the teeth following even the best regimen is high. The more plaque that accumulates, it will begin to harden, creating what’s called tartar. Tartar is not a substance brushing can remove.
The only potential for eliminating tartar is by having a professional dental cleaning. If neglected, left on the teeth, it will breed bacteria, eventually leading to decay and gum disease.
The dental provider does a thorough professional cleaning in St. Helier’s Auckland to prevent these problems before they begin.
Each tooth receives a “scaling” process to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar between the previous visit and the current, followed by a spray consisting of “sodium bicarbonate” used to neutralize the acids from the plaque. An electric high-speed toothbrush will polish each tooth.
With the cleaning, stains are removed from the enamel, and the surface is left smooth, making it more difficult for plaque to attach. Go here for guidance on teeth care.
Final Thought
When researching for a dental provider in Auckland, St. Heliers, with whom you feel comfortable and can develop a sense of trust and confidence, it’s essential to set up a consult initially.
In meeting with the dentist before an appointment, you can ask questions or address concerns, allowing the provider to put your mind at ease. Let them know of your severe anxieties. Many people aren’t fond of having their teeth worked on; it can be a source of fear for some.
When you find the most suitable dentist to meet your needs, the clinic and the practitioner will account for your anxiety and ensure that your experience is pleasant from when you walk in until you check out.