Are you overdue for your checkup? Here at Envy Smile Dental Spa, we like to see most people at six monthly intervals and we thoroughly recommend keeping up with this routine, even if your teeth seem just fine to you. A checkup is an affordable way to check on your dental health and is about far more than just looking for signs of cavities. When you come in to see us at our dental spa, we will look at all your teeth to see if any are developing small lesions or signs of decay, but we will also check your gum health.
Why Good Gum Health Matters
Your gums are equally, if not more important than your teeth, as without healthy gums your teeth will not have adequate support and are likely to loosen. Unfortunately lots of people will develop gum disease to some degree or other and this can turn into a serious condition called periodontitis. (Read also: Why Should I See a Periodontist?) When you come to see us we will gently probe your gums to check for this condition. The idea of probing them is to measure the depth of any pockets that may have begun to form in between your teeth and gums. Gum pockets or periodontal pockets can develop if you have advanced gum disease which causes the gums to gradually pull away or recede from your teeth.
We Can Help You Maintain Healthy Gums
One of the main problems with gum pockets is that they can be very difficult to keep clean with normal brushing and flossing and they are the ideal environment for the bacteria that cause periodontitis, allowing them to thrive and multiply. Healthy gums have a depth of between 1 mm and 3 mm when gently probed, but gums with a depth of 5 mm or more may require treatment (learn about pocket elimination surgery). The great thing about having your gums assessed in this way is that we can keep an eye on any areas that we feel may be a problem. Our hygiene team can advise you on ways to clean your teeth better or can provide treatment that could be as simple as having your teeth and gums professionally deep cleaned. Once you are aware of any potential problems then it’s much easier for you to keep an eye on your gums in between visits to our dental spa.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Your regular oral cancer screenings as a part of your checkup are very important, they are very quick and non-invasive. Dentists are specially trained to look for the early signs of any changes to the oral tissues in your mouth, and if we see anything we think shouldn’t be there then we can soon refer you to the appropriate specialist or we may take a sample of a few cells to be sent off for analysis.
Don’t Forget to Book Your Regular Cleaning at Our Dental Spa
Your regular professional dental cleanings and checkups are another important way to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong and even if you don’t want to come and see us for a checkup then you should definitely still book a hygiene appointment.
Getting into a regular routine of professional dental care will help lengthen the life of your natural teeth, allowing us to pick up any small problems at a stage when they are much easier to treat. (Read why preventative dental care is best option for you). It will also help your wallet as treatment will be far more straightforward, saving you money, not to mention hours in the dental chair.