Have you scheduled your first checkup and cleaning visit of 2024? If not, we urge you to soon! These visits help patients of all ages enjoy good oral health and avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease. In today’s blog, your North Hollywood, CA, dentist talks about the importance of our dental exams.

The Dental Exam

A dental exam is recommended every six months for patients of all ages. The checkup process involves a visual exam of your teeth and gums. We also take images with advanced technology. The goal is to identify areas of concern in the early stages, hopefully before you even experience discomfort. We can pinpoint issues like tooth decay, infection, gingivitis, and gum disease. We also diagnose TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding), and we will screen for oral cancer. These visits are helpful for smiles of all ages, from the youngest member of your family to the oldest.

Our Digital Technology

With digital x-rays, we can identify images of your smile that are not visible to the naked eye, such as oral structures and tooth roots. We can diagnose decay and infection, and bone loss due to gum disease. The images are available instantly chairside, no need for bitewings or waiting for development. We can then walk you through the diagnosis, so you better understand your oral health. We also use intraoral cameras to obtain ages of the surfaces of the teeth and gums, so we can identify problems early too. These also enable us to create a more accurate and precise treatment plan!

Cleaning Your Teeth

In the same visit, we will also take time to clean your teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. The cleaning removes harmful layers of plaque and tartar, which could otherwise lead to tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and stained teeth. The process takes minutes and safeguards your smile, so you enjoy better oral health. We complete the procedure by polishing your teeth to brighten teeth and also make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to coat the teeth before your next visit. You can further help by brushing and flossing your teeth at home daily, and eating a healthier diet as well.

If you have any questions about our approach to preventive dentistry, or if you want to schedule your first checkup and cleaning visit of 2024, then contact our team today to get started. You deserve a strong and healthy smile!

Do You Need a Preventive Visit?

Our team wants to help you maintain your best smile so you can enjoy good oral health. To schedule a visit for your first checkup and cleaning of the new year, give us a call at Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA at (818)763-9353.