Posted by MyRDH on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 - 451 views
Today we’re going to go over the list of the separate dental treatments that could be suggested during your teeth cleaning visit with your dentist.
Regular cleanings keep your teeth sparkling clean but also give your hygienist a perfect chance to perform additional health checks and suggest other treatments.
This article covers why routine teeth cleaning visits are more than just about preventing cavities – they’re also a pathway to a broader oral health management program.
Exploring Additional Dental Treatments
Before we begin, remember that visiting your oral hygienist for regular teeth cleaning has many benefits, prevents a lot of health issues and leads to significant financial savings.
Below are examples of additional dental treatments that your hygienist may suggest to you during your teeth cleaning appointment.
Dental X-rays
Although X-rays are not required at every cleaning, they’re often performed on an annual basis. They basically help your dentist detect potential issues that are not necessarily visible during a standard examination, like problems below the gum line, between the teeth, or under existing fillings.
Fluoride Treatments
After a cleaning, you can opt in for a fluoride treatment. A fluoride treatment will help strengthen your teeth and protect them against decay. It’s a quick treatment that has many benefits that last for months after the treatment and is often recommended for both children and adults.
Some of the benefits of fluoride treatments include:
- Strengthens tooth enamel
- Prevents cavities
- Slows tooth decay
- Good for all ages
- Cost-effective
- Quick and easy
- Long-lasting protection
Dental Sealants
During your cleaning, your hygienist may suggest applying sealants during the visit. Dental sealants are protective coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (the molars), and when applied can prevent food and bacteria from getting stuck and causing cavities.
This simple preventative measure is especially beneficial for children and adolescents who are generally more prone to cavities, but it can still provide substantial benefits for adults too.
Gum Disease Evaluation
Gum disease (periodontal disease) isn’t immediately noticeable, but if your hygienist notices signs of inflammation or bleeding, they may suggest a gum evaluation or even a periodontal charting to fully assess the health of your gums.
If there is significant signs of gum disease or deep gum pockets around the teeth, a localized antibiotic treatment may be suggested. This treatment helps control the infection and over time can reduce the size of the periodontal pockets.
When it comes to gum disease, early detection helps prevents more serious health issues down the road like heart disease and diabetes.
Oral Cancer Screening
Many hygienists include a quick, non-invasive screening for oral cancer during routine cleanings. Oral screenings significantly increase the chances of successful treatment if you are indeed found with the disease.
Expert Advice on Oral Hygiene
Each visit with your hygienist is a chance to get specific advice on how to improve your oral care routine at home. Based on their findings, your hygienist will be able to recommend certain products, follow-up with brushing or flossing techniques, and give you some tips on how to manage your specific oral health needs.
Desensitizing Treatments
Since it’s common for patients to experience sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, desensitizing treatments are generally suggested. These treatments help block the transmission of pain signals from the surface of the tooth to the nerve and provides significant pain relief and improves oral comfort, especially when consuming liquids and food.
Orthodontic Evaluations
The proper alignment of your teeth is important too, so during a routine cleaning, your hygienist may notice the alignment of your teeth and bite are off. If they do find issues that could benefit from orthodontic intervention, (like braces or aligners) they’ll suggest a referral to an orthodontist.
This is especially useful for younger patients and also available to adults too.
Night Guards for Bruxism
Do you grind your teeth? Well if your hygienist observes signs of teeth grinding (bruxism), they may recommend a custom night guard. Without proper protection, teeth grinding can cause excessive wear on the teeth, whereas a night guard will help protect and prevent further dental damage.
Nutritional Counseling
Our oral health is closely related to our diet, so it’s common for some dental practices to offer nutritional counseling as part their appointments. This usually include a discussion about foods that promote dental health as opposed to food that should be avoided, all in order to reduce tooth decay and any other oral health issues.
Restorative Dental Consultations
If during your cleaning, issues such as cavities, broken fillings, or other restorative needs are noticed, your hygienist may suggest a consultation with the dentist to discuss treatment options and a follow-up appointment. This is a proactive approach that ensures that minor issues can be addressed before they become more serious.
Are You Ready to Clean Your Teeth?
Now that you’re aware of how deep your hygienist will go to ensure the overall health of your mouth, there should be nothing holding you back from making regular appointments with them and getting the job done right. The bottom line is, the health of your entire body depends on it!
