Managing your dental health is about more than a nice smile. Poor dental health has been linked to a wide range of other health issues and if you don’t stay on top of your dental health, it can have a big impact on your overall well being. That is why regular dental exams and cleaning are so important, but many people don’t visit the dentist as often as they should.
Dr. Sander I. White and his expert team can provide the preventive dentistry services that you need to stay on top of your dental health. Everybody over the age of four needs to visit the dentist for a checkup at least twice a year. However, if you have had extensive dentistry or special issues with decay or experienced issues with gum disease in the past, you may need to visit more often. If you do not have regular checkups, you are likely to experience issues with bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and even tooth loss.
It is estimated that 91% of adults will have a tooth cavity at some point in their lives and 23% of children aged between 2 and 11 are not getting the dental care that they need. We are here to change that so if you and your family have not been in for a dental exam and cleaning in the last 6 months, it’s important that you schedule an appointment right away.
Your First Appointment
We look forward to meeting you and do our best to make every visit welcoming and friendly. Dr. White hates to work with complete strangers and so our first visit will allow us all time to get to know one another. We will talk about your needs, your wants and any issues that you think we can help with. We will listen carefully to what you have to say and will answer questions that you might have.
We will review our intake process by describing our thorough examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, jaw joints, muscles, tongue and other related structures. There is a lot that dentists are responsible for besides teeth!
Of course if you are having an emergency problem, we will address that first.
You will meet our team members as together we will examine you and take necessary X-Rays as well as photographs and other diagnostic studies as required.
Your Second Appointment
Your second appointment is typically a planning visit during which Dr. White will review his findings and work with you to develop an organized plan for your treatment. This is probably the most important appointment that you will ever have because it will make out what you need for both the near and the distant future. Priorities will be set so that you treatments are efficient and smooth. Schedules and costs and payment arrangements will also be discussed.
We encourage you to bring your questions, written down if possible, so that Dr. White can help you determine your course with confidence.
Dental health issues are best dealt with when they are identified early. Plaque and bacteria build up for a while before cavities form. If these deposits are picked up during a dental exam and you have a professional cleaning, you can avoid that cavity. The same is true of issues like gum disease, which can be treated with a good oral hygiene routine. However, if beginning gum disease is allowed to go untreated, more extensive procedures may be necessary. Preventive dentistry not only helps to protect your dental health, but it can also save you a lot of money because you can avoid expensive procedures. Professional cleaning is covered by most standard dental insurance plans, so a regular checkup and cleaning is the most cost effective way to look after your dental health and prevent any serious issues in the future.
If you are falling behind with preventive dentistry and your habit is that you only schedule an appointment when you have a specific problem, it’s important that you schedule a checkup right away. The purpose of regular checkup appointments is to head off problems when they are small and easier to fix. Nothing in dentistry heals by itself, and many conditions are painless, So you wouldn’t be aware of an issue until it becomes big enough to hurt. Dr. White and his team will look carefully to diagnose the smallest visible issues so that you can correct them with a minimum of treatment.
Some patients experience anxiety about visiting the dentist, which is why it is useful to know what to expect from your next checkup.
Medical History and Physical Exam
If this is the first time that you have visited us for a checkup, you will be asked to fill out some forms about your medical history and any dental health issues that you have experienced in the past. This information will be reviewed periodically. Preventive dentistry is far more effective if our team understands the specific problems that you have. Our hygienists examine and take measurements to evaluate the health of the gum and underlying bone. The results of this inspection, along with any information that you give us about potential problem areas, will be used to determine what treatment is needed.
Plaque and Tartar Removal
Removing plaque and tartar, which are bacterial accumulators, from the teeth is one of the most important parts of preventive dentistry. If this plaque and tartar is allowed to sit on the teeth, it will cause decay. But it is very simple to remove. One of our trained hygienists will gently lift tartar and plaque from the teeth. Our experienced team will ensure that you are comfortable throughout the process. In most cases of mild periodontal disease, you will only need one appointment but if there is a significant buildup of tartar and plaque or more advanced disease, you may need multiple appointments.
Polishing
Polishing the teeth is important as it ensures that all plaque and tartar are removed and your teeth are perfectly clean. The hygienist will use a sonic cleaning tool and a special toothpaste to clean and polish your teeth to perfection.
Flossing and Rinsing
Flossing at home is an important part of your oral hygiene routine and it’s also a vital part of preventive dentistry. Once our hygienist has polished your teeth, they will floss between each tooth to remove any remaining plaque and bacteria. If there is any bleeding, which is a sign of ongoing infection, it will be noted down so it can be addressed. Once the flossing is complete, your mouth will be rinsed out with a disinfecting solution.
Inspection By Dr. Sander White
During Dr. White's examination, your teeth, gums, palate and oral tissues will be thoroughly checked over. Necessary x-rays will also be taken along with a photographic survey of your mouth. Dr. White, after reviewing his findings, x-rays, and photographs, will schedule an appointment for consultation and treatment planning.
Preventive dentistry is so important if you want to protect your teeth and gums. If you haven’t had a checkup in the last 6 months, get in touch and schedule an appointment today. We are dedicated to providing a personalized service for all of our patients at every appointment. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental exam and cleaning, we are always happy to take you through the process.
Dr. Sander I. White has over 50 years of experience practicing dentistry and he has invested over 2000 hours in dental education after graduating dental school in 1971, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands. If you have been neglecting preventive dentistry, contact us to schedule an appointment today!
There are often several available options to address any problem in dentistry. Dr. White and his team will evaluate each choice and use his experience and knowledge to advise you of the details of each option so that you can arrive at the best set of solutions for yourself.
