Why are dental exams and cleanings important?
Dental exams and cleanings are essential because we want to make sure that our patients have a healthy mouth for a lifetime. The dental exam is the process of being able to take a look in the mouth and see what conditions exist.
What is the first aspect of preventative care?
The first aspect of preventative care is dental cleaning. There are multiple types of dental cleanings, but the professional treatment with a hygienist is key to making sure the patient is healthy long term.
What does the dental exam process at Peridotics and Implant Dentistry of Tallahassee include?
At Peridotics and Implant Dentistry of Tallahassee, we include a number of things in our dental exam process. This is specific to the periodontal need of our practice, and some things may vary from this patient's general dentist who we're oftentimes working with on these types of care. In our office, any and all necessary x-rays will be taken, as well as a series of photos. This, along with periodontal charting, which is taking a series of measurements to see the gum status around the teeth, helps us get a complete picture on anything that's needed.
What are dentists looking for during a dental exam?
A dentist is looking for a number of things during their dental exam, and as a periodontist, we're looking for a number of specific periodontal parameters during our exam. The general dentist or restoring doctor mainly looks at areas where restorations are needed, meaning a tooth if it's cracked, if a tooth needs a filling, or may need a crown. They're looking at those aspects of care.
What specific parameters do periodontists focus on?
There's a bit of an overlap, but as a periodontist, we spend extra time going over the specific periodontal parameters, meaning, are there areas where gum and bone have been lost around the natural teeth that are causing additional issues? Are there teeth that need to be replaced with dental implants or some other type of option associated with tooth replacement? We're also looking at the overall health of teeth to see if these teeth can be saved, and if so, for how long.
What recommendations may come up from a periodontal examination?
From a periodontal examination, there are many recommendations that may come up. Some of them relate to specific procedures that we commonly do in the office. The periodontal procedures can rank into a couple of different categories. If the gum tissue is not adequate around the natural teeth, there's a set of procedures called gum grafting that may help with that area. If there are issues with the gum and bone around the natural teeth, meaning if that's starting to go because of periodontal disease, we may recommend procedures such as teeth cleanings or different types of gum surgeries to make sure those natural teeth are indeed savable. If, unfortunately, a tooth cannot be saved, then we'll discuss the different options available for tooth replacement, which may include dental implants.
How long does a full dental exam in your office take?
A full dental exam in our office, including x-rays and any adjunctive procedures, typically takes slightly over an hour. We reserve additional time to go over treatment options with patients, as there are many patients who have needed treatments after we've gone through our exam process.
How do you ensure patient comfort during the exam process?
Fortunately, one of the things that we pride ourselves on at Periodontics and Implant Dentistry of Tallahassee is to make sure the patient is comfortable at all times in our office. This includes making sure that the exam process proceeds in a straightforward manner and that we prevent any soreness or discomfort during that procedure.
How can someone schedule a dental exam with your office?
To schedule a dental exam, give us a call at (850) 909-9731. We look forward to seeing you.