Dental

When you arrive in the office you will be summoned to the back by a dental hygienist. The majority of your appointment will be spent with this person so it is important to make sure you feel comfortable with him. The first thing he will do is have you take a series of x-rays. He will place a hard material in your mouth and tell you to bite. He will also cover you in an apron that will protect you from the radiation. You should get 4 x-rays total, one for each corner of your mouth, top and bottom.

Next you will proceed to another room where you will be directed to sit in a chair. You will be covered with a paper sheet to make sure no debris gets on your clothing. If your dental office is modern and up to date, you may have the option to watch television during your appointment. Your dental hygienist will ask if you are having any problems. He will glance around your mouth quickly to see what is going on. Then he will do an analysis of bone loss to check for periodontal disease. He will check each tooth to measure the depth of the gap between the tooth and gums. A gap of 1 to 3 millimeters is expected. If the gap is any larger, treatment is indicated.

After the periodontal screening, the dental hygienist will begin scraping the calculus deposits off the teeth. Food and debris not cleaned well will turn into calculus in two days. Having this cleaned by the dental hygienist will prevent cavities and other more serious dental problems from occurring. This usually does not hurt unless the dental hygienist is rough and accidentally pokes you in the gums. A little bloodshed is not uncommon but it will still be mostly painless. Once he has scraped all of the calculus from the teeth, he may floss in between the teeth, then polish each tooth, which will make them feel smooth and silky. Children usually receive a fluoride treatment to help against cavities, but adults do not always get this.

The dental hygienist should have made a note of any cavities he came across. He will also summon the dentist to come do a thorough check for cavities or other problems. If there are areas needing attention, your dental hygienist will schedule another appointment to have them fixed. He will also schedule your next checkup for 6 months down the road.

If you have dental insurance, you may not have a bill to pay. Otherwise, payment can be settled at the front desk. You will be given a goody bag, which may consist of a sample size of toothpaste, a toothbrush, mouthwash, or dental floss. If you are having any procedures done at a future date, you may be given pamphlets about the procedure. You will also be encouraged to floss better if you have not been flossing regularly. The entire appointment should take an hour or less and you will leave with a clean and healthy mouth. It is important to stay on track with regular dental checkups, as this will catch and prevent more serious problems before they occur.