Preventive Dental Care in Redmond

Preventive dentistry is the routine care that keeps your teeth and gums healthy and catches small problems before they grow. For most people, it means regular checkups and cleanings combined with good habits at home. Here is what happens during preventive visits and what each step is for.

Dental Exams

A dental exam is a careful look at your teeth, gums, bite and the soft tissues of your mouth. At your first visit, your dentist does a comprehensive exam and reviews your medical and dental history, since some health conditions and medications affect the mouth. At later visits, a periodic exam checks for changes since last time.

During the exam, your dentist looks for tooth decay, cracks, worn or broken fillings, gum disease and bite problems, and checks how any crowns, bridges or other dental work are holding up. Our office uses an intraoral camera, a small camera about the size of a pen, so you can see on a screen what the dentist sees in your mouth. If something needs attention, your dentist will explain the findings and talk through your options.

Professional Cleanings

Even with careful brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into tartar (also called calculus), which a toothbrush can’t remove. During a professional cleaning, a dental hygienist uses special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from above and just below the gumline. Your teeth are then polished to remove surface stains and leave them smooth, which makes it harder for new plaque to stick.

Cleanings are done for both adults and children. How often you need one depends on the health of your gums: many people come in twice a year, while people with a history of gum disease may need more frequent visits.

Dental X-Rays

X-rays (radiographs) show what can’t be seen during an exam: decay between teeth or under old fillings, the bone around the teeth, infection at the tips of roots, and teeth that haven’t come in yet. Common types include bitewings, which show the back teeth and are often used to find cavities between teeth; periapical X-rays, which show a whole tooth from crown to root tip; and panoramic X-rays, which show the entire upper and lower jaw in one image. Our office takes digital X-rays, so the images appear on a screen within moments. Your dentist decides which X-rays you need, and how often, based on your own history and risk. You can read more about the imaging tools our office uses.

Gum (Periodontal) Health

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It often starts as gingivitis: red, swollen gums that may bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis can usually be reversed with a professional cleaning and better home care. If it isn’t treated, it can progress to periodontitis, in which the gums pull away from the teeth and the supporting bone is gradually lost.

To check your gum health, your dentist or hygienist gently measures the small space between each tooth and the gum, called a pocket, with a thin, ruler-like instrument called a periodontal probe. Healthy pockets are shallow; deeper pockets can be a sign of gum disease.

Scaling and Root Planing

When gum disease has caused deeper pockets, a regular cleaning can’t reach all of the buildup. Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, removes plaque and tartar from deep below the gumline (scaling) and smooths the root surfaces (root planing) so the gums can heal and fit more snugly around the teeth. It is usually done one section of the mouth at a time, with the area numbed. Afterward, regular periodontal maintenance visits help keep the pockets clean. Learn more about gum disease treatment.

Fluoride and Sealants

Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps it resist decay. Besides the fluoride in toothpaste and many water supplies, your dentist may recommend a professional fluoride varnish, especially for children and for adults with a higher risk of cavities.

Sealants are thin, tooth-colored coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth, where deep grooves trap food and bacteria. The tooth is cleaned, the sealant is flowed into the grooves, and it is hardened with a special light. Sealants are often placed on children’s permanent molars soon after they come in, but adults can benefit too. A preventive resin is a similar treatment for grooves that show very early signs of decay: the area is cleaned and sealed with tooth-colored resin.

Oral Cancer Screening

As part of a routine exam, your dentist checks your lips, tongue, cheeks, the floor and roof of your mouth, and your throat for sores, lumps, color changes or other unusual areas, and may feel your jaw and neck for swelling. The screening takes only a few minutes. Most findings turn out to be harmless, but if something looks unusual, your dentist may suggest keeping an eye on it, a follow-up visit, or a referral for further testing. Let us know about any sore in your mouth that hasn’t healed within two weeks.

Care at Home

What you do every day matters as much as your visits. Your dentist or hygienist will give you personalized recommendations, but the basics are:

• Brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth once a day with floss, small interdental brushes or a water flosser.
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks, especially sipping or snacking throughout the day.
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and ask about a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth.
• Avoid tobacco products.

Bring your questions to your next visit, and we’ll help you build a preventive plan that fits you and your family in Redmond.