Dental X-rays, and cleanings are all part of regular dental wellness check-ups. Most patients need to have a dental cleaning, X-rays, and a full dental exam and cleaning at least once or, preferably, twice a year. People with serious dental issues might need to schedule exams more often. Dr. Jonathan Koren, practicing at Koren Family Dental in Raritan, New Jersey is always there to help his patients, with routine care like teeth cleanings, exams and emergency care when needed.
Routine dental exams are an integral part of good dental health. Patients who maintain healthy teeth and gums enjoy better overall health, and they’re also able to avoid the additional costs of major dental treatments in the future. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that patients of all ages have routine dental exams in Raritan twice each year. If patients have routine dental exams at the recommended intervals, the majority of dental issues can be caught and resolved in the early stages.
First, Dr. Koren will do a full visual examination of your mouth. He uses dental equipment including mouth mirrors, high-intensity lights, and other specialized dental tools. During this visual exam, Dr. Koren is searching for issues and emerging issues such as cracked teeth, tooth decay, and other problems.
During a routine dental exam in Raritan, NJ, Dr. Koren will review your medical history to determine whether any new conditions are affecting your dental health.
He’ll also perform an oral cancer screening, checking the gums, throat, tongue, lips, face, and neck for signs of oral cancer.
A routine dental exam includes a full gum disease evaluation. Dr. Koren will check both gums and bone surrounding the teeth for periodontal disease.
Additionally, any existing restorations will be checked during the exam. This includes fillings, crowns, inlays, overlays, bridges, and all other restorations.
X-rays are done during routine dental exams. in Raritan, NJ Diagnostic X-rays can reveal hidden problems that the visual exam didn’t reveal.
Bitewing X-rays are usually taken once a year, while a panographic X-ray that revolves around the entire head is usually taken every three to five years.
A dental cleaning at Koren Family Dental starts with tartar (calculus) removal. Tartar starts out as plaque, which is easily removed. However, once it’s on your teeth for a long time it hardens and becomes tartar. Tartar can only be removed by a dental care professional.
If any plaque is present, it’s also removed at the time of the dental cleaning.
Your teeth are then thoroughly cleaned and polished.
In cases where the tartar builds up under the gums, a deep cleaning called a root planing may be necessary.