Preventing Dental Health Problems Before They Start
Proper dental care starts at home, with a daily regimen of brushing and flossing. However, even if you floss daily and keep a spare toothbrush at the office to brush after meals, bacteria can still build up between the teeth and under the gum line, leading to potential gum disease and tooth decay. Regular dental exams and cleanings can help eradicate these bacteria at the source, leaving your mouth feeling fresh, clean, and healthy.
If you are an existing patient, we would like to thank you for trusting us with your dental health needs. If you are a new patient or are looking for a quality dentist in Lake County IL, we would like to welcome you.
Den-Care Smile Center offers general dentistry, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry services as well as orthodontic treatment with braces designed to meet the needs of your entire family.
Part of our commitment involves providing you with valuable information so you can make informed decisions about your dental health needs including dental exams and cleanings. We encourage you to read the information below about the importance of dental exams and cleanings.
Den-care Smile Center, located in Lake County IL, is a multi-specialty Dental Practice providing affordable, quality dental services that include: Teeth Whitening, Dental Crowns, Dental Bridges, Root Canal Therapy, Periodontal Treatments, Fillings, Extractions, Oral Surgery, Emergency Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Exams & Cleanings and Orthodontic treatment with braces.
Den-Care Smile Center accepts most dental insurance plans, including Public Aid, Medicaid and All Kids in Illinois.
Your initial appointment enables us to review your medical and dental history, discuss your treatment goals and conduct a comprehensive dental examination. Once we gather all the essential information, we will share our findings and provide you with information and treatment options to achieve your goals.
A dental examination consists mainly of a checkup and cleaning, but dental exams may vary depending on individual dental needs. For instance, Dr. Kozina, or another Den-Care Smile Center dentist, may spend more time looking for signs of tooth decay in children but gum disease in adults. During your dental exam, your dentist will perform a variety of tasks geared towards monitoring your dental health.
Dental Exams
Your Den-Care Smile Center dentist will conduct a visual exam not only to check for current dental problems but also to determine your risk for future dental conditions. A dental examination may include probing problem areas with an instrument or using other methods to check for tooth decay.
During your comprehensive oral exam, the dentist can assess whether your gums have receded, see if the teeth have moved or make any other basic oral health assessments. This can help the dentist to determine what course of treatment may be necessary. Dental x-rays may be taken as a part of this examination process. X-rays are essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions. X-rays will also alert the dentist to wisdom teeth that may be coming in, or any other problems that lurk beneath the gum surface.
Older patients or those who are at a higher risk for periodontal disease will require a more in-depth screening than others, to note the rate at which gums are receding. In some cases, a more thorough cleaning process will be necessary, with water pressure or other dental instruments. These advanced procedures help dislodge residual food particles that may still be present and allows your dentist to removed excess plaque that may have accumulated. In a standard dental exam and cleaning, these same procedures are performed, however, to a lesser extent.
Dental Cleanings
During your dental exam, your dentist or hygienist will scrape away tartar from your teeth and under your gums. Many times our dentists and dental hygienists will use ultrasonic cleaning techniques to remove excess tartar. Afterwards your teeth will be polished. This is a great time for your dentist or hygienist to review teeth brushing and flossing techniques and let you know which areas of your mouth require more attention during your daily dental hygiene routine.
Dental cleanings may be necessary on an annual basis, every six months or even every three months, as recommended by your dentist. The frequency will depend on your current oral health, your age, and your predisposition to a variety of other health factors. If you are at risk of periodontal diseases because of age, tobacco use, rate of accumulation of deposits, personal oral hygiene practices, or medical conditions such as diabetes, your teeth may need to be cleaned more often. Your dentist or dental hygienist can help you determine how often you should have your teeth cleaned.
To complete your dental exam and cleaning, the teeth are polished to minimize any stains and remove plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling. In some cases, a topical fluoride treatment may also be provided.
Starting a proper routine of oral care early in life will help put the right habits in place to protect your teeth for many years to come. There is no greater indicator of youthfulness and a good state of health than a bright, healthy smile. Regular cleanings and exams are just one part of this, but oral hygiene at home is also vital to your long term oral health..
If you have questions, concerns, or comments about dental exams and cleanings, we invite you to contact our North Chicago IL Dentist Office or one of our Dentists in Round Lake Beach, IL today. Dr. Gustav Kozina and the professional staff at Den-Care® Smile Center will be happy to provide you with more information about Oral Exams, Cleanings, Oral Cancer Screening, Tooth Extraction, Periodontal Care, Gum Disease Treatment, TMJ Treatment, Bad Breath Treatment, Dental Emergencies, Fluoride Treatments, Teeth Grinding, Dental Sealants, Snoring Appliances, Night Guards, Dental Implants, Veneers, Braces, Crowns and more.
