What to Expect During your Dental Prophylaxis Appointment

This appointment is a preventative procedure. The Registered Dental Hygienist will take your blood pressure, pulse rate and update your medical health history Information to see if there are any changes in your health. During this appointment, you may need to have x-rays taken. Bitewing x-rays are taken every year to determine if you have any cavities in any areas of your mouth and monitor for bone loss. Some dental practices may also take pictures of your front teeth too. Regular x-rays help your dentist discover any oral health problems. If you have excellent oral health and see your dentist regularly, your dentist may recommend x-rays less often than if you are a high-risk patient. Factors that dentist may consider are your age, oral health, risk for disease and if there are already signs of oral disease present, pain or discomfort.
X-rays are a helpful tool to diagnose problems otherwise unnoticed like jaw damage, impacted teeth, abscess, cysts, tumors or decay in between the teeth.
Periodontal Charting will be performed to measure tissue depth. This gives the hygienist information about how deep the pockets are between the teeth and gums. The hygienist then will perform a thorough cleaning depending on your need. The hygienist may use a special tool called the ultrasonic scaler combined with hand scaling to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth below and above the gum line. Your teeth will then be polished to remove exterior teeth stain and lastly floss your teeth. Oral hygiene instructions will be discussed to help you better take care of your mouth at home. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day will help you maintain good oral health. Some people may need to be seen more often than others if you belong in a high-risk group like diabetics, pregnant women, people who smoke, history of periodontal disease, people who are more prone to cavities and people with weakened immune system. Make sure to come visit your dental professionals regularly and discuss any changes in your health so an appropriate recommendation can be tailored to your specific needs.
For more information, please call 661-255-2545. The office is located at 27420 Tourney Rd., Suite 270 in Valencia. You can also learn more at www.kimrosendds.com.