Dental Exams and Cleanings: What to Expect

Daily brushing and flossing are important components of any dental hygiene routine. But for the most comprehensive oral care, patients should also attend dental exam and cleaning appointments every six months. These general dentistry services enable us to identify oral health problems early and reduce the risk of dental problems by removing damaging plaque and tartar from the teeth.

What Happens During a Dental Exam?

Digital X-rays

We take digital X-rays during dental appointments. These X-rays reduce the amount of radiation exposure for patients. In addition, the X-ray images can be displayed on the computer screen in our exam rooms, allowing Dr. Motlagh to enlarge the images and show you any areas of concern that have developed.

For new patients at our practice, we will take a full set of X-rays. Following your initial appointment, we may take smaller, alternating sets of follow-up X-rays to monitor your oral health.

Visual Exam

Look for any signs of redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums, which could indicate the presence of gum disease.Measure the depth of periodontal pockets; large pockets are an indication of gum disease.Check for signs of tooth decay using a small metal probe.Evaluate your bite alignment; problems with the bite can contribute to temporomandibular disorder and bruxism.Check the lymph nodes, tongue, cheeks, lips, and other soft tissues for signs of oral cancer.

Your Unique Analysis

After we have reviewed your dental X-rays and performed your visual exam, Dr. Motlagh will discuss any areas of concern we have found. She may recommend techniques to improve your at-home oral hygiene, or she may recommend restorative treatment to improve the health and function of the teeth and gums.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Dental cleaning involves several steps to thoroughly remove built up plaque and tartar and superficial stains.

First, we use a combination of special dental tools, water irrigation, and suction to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth. We then methodically move from tooth to tooth, addressing the front and back of the teeth to scrape away debris and flush it out of the mouth. Special attention is paid to the gum line, back molars, and between the teeth. These areas are more difficult to clean and are especially vulnerable to dental health problems.

Once we have loosened or removed most of the plaque and tartar, we will floss the teeth to remove any additional debris that remains between the teeth or at the gum line.

Finally, we will polish the teeth to remove surface stains and finish your professional dental cleaning.

How Porcelain Veneers Can Treat Tooth Discoloration

When it comes to addressing multiple issues with smile aesthetics, porcelain veneers are one of the most effective and versatile solutions. Let's take a moment to explore how porcelain veneers can be used to treat tooth discoloration and dental stains.

Sometimes Teeth Whitening isn't Enough

While teeth whitening is a great option for many kinds of tooth discoloration and stains, it sometimes isn't the best option. Major stains may be too extreme for dental bleaching, even with multiple sessions planned. The nature of the stain can also lead to teeth whitening challenges. Stains that are caused by fluoride or tetracycline, for instance, simply do not respond to bleaching gel since the discoloration is intrinsic rather than on the surface of a tooth.

In these cases, the best option for improving the look of a smile is the use of porcelain veneers.

Everything You Need to Know About Veneers

About Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that are used to mask cosmetic imperfections of a smile. Porcelain veneers are ideal for treating chips, cracks, gaps, spacing issues, size issues, and tooth discoloration. With porcelain veneers in place, you can smile with absolute confidence again.

How Do They Work?

Porcelain veneers are placed directly onto the front of an affected tooth. The veneers are thin and fit snugly. Thanks to their composition, they are incredibly hard to detect, whether in natural light or artificial light. Once the porcelain veneers are in place, patients are able to bite, chew, and speak just as they would normally. Porcelain veneers look great and are durable, too.

How Effective Are They?

Rather than explain it ourselves, here's one of our patients who's benefited from porcelain veneers explaining the treatment in her own words.

"I had an enamel defect that was most likely caused by too much Fluoride. Dr. Motlagh restored my smile with a set of conservative porcelain veneers in 2010 and have not stopped smiling since. I liked the fact that there were no surprises and I got to test drive my new smile with temporary veneers that resembled my final ones. Once I approved the temporary veneers, the final glass restorations were made in the lab. I love my smile and I wish I had not waited so long to perfect it."

Are They Right for Me?

The best way to find out if porcelain veneers are right for you is to stop by the practice for a consultation. We will be more than happy to discuss these matters with you in greater detail and create a custom treatment plan just for you.

For more information about treating tooth discoloration with porcelain veneers and your many other options for enhancing your smile, be sure to contact our team at Aesthetic Smiles.