Can you believe that we’re more than halfway through the month of March already? Life is just so busy that the days just seem to roll into weeks, and the weeks roll into months—you get the idea. But no matter how life gets, you owe it to yourself and your family to stay on track with six-month dental checkups. These regularly scheduled visits to see Springfield dentist Dr. Olson and his team can truly help prevent dental problems from developing.
Dental Cleaning For a Beautiful and Healthy Smile
There are two components to a dental checkup. The first is a dental cleaning. Our dental hygienist, Lori Sage, uses a special rotary brush to thoroughly clean your teeth. Surface stains are often removed during this cleaning, so your smile looks brighter right away.
In addition, we use hand-held instruments to remove plaque and bits of tartar, which is calcified plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Tartar tends to accumulate along the gum line, thereby threatening the health of your gum tissue. If not removed at regular dental checkups, the bacteria that hide in tartar can begin to infiltrate your soft tissue, leading to gum disease. This bacterial infection has the potential to destroy gum, connective and bone tissue, and can even lead to systemic illnesses including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. And to think—all of this can be avoided with regular dental checkups.
Dental Examinations for Strong Teeth
The second component of a dental checkup is the dental examination. During this portion of your appointment, Dr. Olson visually examines each tooth and carefully considers digital x-rays. We want to find problems such as tooth decay or cracks as soon as possible when restorative treatment is easier. For example, when a cavity is found early, we can usually remove the decay and restore the tooth’s natural form with a tooth-colored filling. However, when dental checkups are skipped, decay has a chance to grow and a filling may no longer be sufficient. In this case, a dental crown may be the only solution to preserving the tooth and restoring normal form and function.
Oral Cancer Screening in Springfield
Another important avenue of prevention during a regular dental checkup is the oral cancer screening. Like all cancer screenings, this one is designed to find pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue before other outward signs and symptoms are present. When found early, oral cancer is highly treatable and curable.
Contact Our Office Today
Don’t let another month go by without scheduling a dental checkup for you and each member of your family. Call Olson Family Dental in Springfield, MO today.