Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Florida

During your exam, you can expect:

• To have x-rays taken as a diagnostic tool for the dentist
• A visual inspection of your teeth and gums
• A gum disease evaluation
• A mouth cancer screening
• An examination of existing fillings or other restorations

While our dentist examines your teeth and gums, you will have the opportunity to express any concerns you have about symptoms you’re experiencing or any changes you’ve noticed in your teeth and gums. Even if you no longer have your natural teeth, it’s important to have a dental checkup every six months or as recommended by your dentist to ensure your dentures or implants are functioning properly.

Contact our office if you would like to schedule a dental exam in Ocala.

Where Can I Get a Dental Cleaning and Treatment for Gum Disease?

Professional teeth cleanings remove the plaque and tartar that are impossible to remove with brushing alone. Tartar is hardened plaque, the sticky film that covers your teeth. Both plaque and tartar contain bacteria, which can cause decay and gum disease. After your teeth are clean, the hygienist will polish your teeth, including your fillings, and apply fluoride. The treatment takes about an hour and you can have it done when you’re coming in for your routine dental exam. Very often, a hygienist will clean your teeth before your exam. Afterward, your teeth will feel cleaner and look brighter.

A professional teeth cleaning can help you avoid gum disease. Gum disease starts as gingivitis, which is when your gums are bright red and swollen. You may notice that your teeth bleed when you brush them. If you have symptoms of gingivitis, call us for gum disease treatment, typically a dental cleaning. Gingivitis may turn into a more advanced form of gum disease requiring periodontal treatment.

There are several treatments available for advanced gum disease, including surgical and non-surgical options. Typically, your dentist will order a deep cleaning first, where the dentist cleans the area under your gums. You’ll have a local anesthetic applied so the procedure won’t be painful. There are surgical options available if a deep cleaning is not enough to keep the support structures holding your teeth from deteriorating. Our dentist will do his or her best to save your teeth.

What Remedies Can a Dentist Suggest for Bad Breath?

If you have chronic bad breath regardless of what you eat, call our office to schedule a dental exam. Our dentist will look at your oral hygiene habits first since most bad breath is from bacteria in the mouth you are not removing with brushing and flossing. Brushing or scraping your tongue will remove odor-causing bacteria from it. Our dentist may suggest an anti-bacterial mouthwash or other products that will help you keep your mouth clean and fresh. Cavities and gum disease can also cause bad breath so our dentist will check for these as well. A dry mouth can cause bad breath as well. Drink plenty of water every day. Call us to request an appointment if you have chronic bad breath and you’re tired of eating breath mints all day long.

What Is a Mouth Cancer Screening?

An oral cancer screening is a quick visual inspection of your mouth performed during a routine exam. Our dentist looks for any early signs of oral cancer using OralID technology. These may include red or white patches, lumps and sores that take more than two weeks to heal. If our dentist spots anything unusual, he or she will send a sample of the tissue to a lab for a diagnosis. Screenings for mouth cancer are crucial to catching the disease in its early stages when treatment is the most effective. You also have more treatment options when the cancer is small and has not spread. You probably won’t notice any symptoms when mouth cancer is in its early stages, so it’s vital you have a screening from a dentist who is trained to spot abnormal tissue.

If you haven’t had a screening for oral cancer in a year or more, call us today. We can also make an appointment for a dental exam in Ocala for you.