Maintaining a clean and healthy smile has many benefits for your physical health. Routine dental cleanings help prevent tooth decay and gum disease and allow Dr. Derek Conover and our dental care team to identify problems in their earliest stages. Professional dental cleaning is an important part of routine preventive care. A dental cleaning in our Philadelphia dental office, goes beyond the standard and plays a huge role in the longevity of your smile.
Dr. Conover follows ADA guidelines and recommends that patients visit our office for a routine dental care exam every six months. Hygiene visits with us include a comprehensive dental exam and consultation with the dentist. Preventive dental care is a general dentistry service we provide to new and existing patients in Philadelphia, PA.
Routine Dental Visits
Our hygiene visits include:
- Professional dental cleaning
- Dental X-rays
- Periodontal screening and charting
- Dental caries (cavities) screening
- Occlusal analysis to examine the position of the bite
- Oral cancer screening
What are the different types of teeth?
There are four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Most people have 32 permanent adult teeth, which are categorized below.
- Incisors: These are the eight front teeth we use to cut food.
- Canines (cuspids): These are the four teeth on the sides of our mouth that we use for tearing meat and crunching hard foods.
- Premolars (bicuspids): These are the eight teeth between our canines and molars.
- Molars: These are the last 12 teeth at the back of our mouth that we use to grind food down into a paste before swallowing it. Your third molars are “wisdom teeth.”
We focus on the health of all your teeth when you visit Opus Dental Esthetics. During cleanings, our hygienists carefully remove plaque from hard-to-reach spots so your teeth are clean and healthy along the gum line. If we find any problems with your teeth we’ll recommend the right treatment.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Our goal is to help you maintain or improve your oral health. Our dentist in Philadelphia, PA, uses the latest breakthrough in decay detection. Diagnodent laser technology detects decay at its earliest stage before it destroys more tooth structures.
Cavities can sometimes be hard to see with the naked eye. They often form in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, called fissure lines. These areas can trap food particles and bacteria. Even very small openings in the tooth’s hard outer layer can allow decay to move quickly into the softer layer underneath.
Using a tool called DIAGNOdent allows us to detect these early signs of decay before it becomes a bigger problem. This technology helps us find cavities sooner, even when they aren’t visible yet. When we catch decay early, we can treat it faster and more comfortably. This means smaller fillings, less discomfort, and better protection for your natural tooth structure.
If we detect a cavity, we offer tooth-colored dental composites to restore beauty and strength to the tooth. We want to treat your tooth cavity as soon as possible. If you ignore it, it will spread and may require much more intense treatment, such as root canal therapy.
Preventing Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, like many diseases, may not be obvious without testing. Your doctor must measure and evaluate your high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. We screen for signs of periodontal disease on every visit, but we perform a comprehensive perio charting (CPC) every few years.
During this in-depth exam, we take measurements to assess the depth and health of your gum pockets and each tooth. Normal gum pocket depth ranges from 1 to 3 millimeters. Deeper pockets with bleeding is a sign of disease and may indicate the need for advanced treatments.
We also look for tooth mobility and gum recession. During this process, we collect data into our electronic patient record system and compare it to prior examination results. We use this data to determine whether your periodontal health is improving, maintaining, or worsening.
Dr. Conover uses this information and a review of your most recent X-rays, for an accurate assessment of your bone levels. Small changes often happen over time with gum disease. If identified early, you can more easily manage periodontal disease, and the prognosis for your teeth is much better.
Dr. Conover offers several treatments for gum disease. We’ll determine the best treatment for your specific gum disease symptoms and stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good oral hygiene keeps your mouth and body healthy. Read the answers to these common questions about dental hygiene in our Philadelphia, PA, dental office to learn more.
Why is dental hygiene important?
Dental hygiene keeps your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy. At-home care and dental visits remove plaque and bacteria that can cause more oral health issues. Good oral hygiene can also improve your overall health. Poor oral care has been linked to problems like heart disease, diabetes, and infections. When you keep your mouth clean and healthy, you reduce the risk of dental problems and help your body stay healthier too.
What are the consequences of ignoring dental hygiene?
Ignoring dental hygiene can lead to serious problems for your teeth and gums. When you don’t brush and floss regularly, plaque and bacteria build up on your teeth. Over time, this can cause cavities, which are holes in your teeth, and gum disease, which can make your gums red, swollen, or bleed easily.
If left untreated, these problems can get worse. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss, and cavities can cause pain, infections, or the need for fillings, crowns, or even extractions. Poor oral hygiene can also affect your overall health, increasing the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
What is the most important part of dental hygiene?
The most important part of dental hygiene is caring for your teeth and gums every day. You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. Also, remember to visit Dr. Conover regularly for checkups and cleanings.
Good dental hygiene helps prevent cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other oral health problems. It also keeps your smile healthy and strong for years.
What is decay in teeth?
Tooth decay is damage that happens when bacteria in your mouth produce acids that eat away at the enamel, which is the hard outer layer of your teeth. If decay isn’t treated, it can create cavities, which are holes in the teeth.
Decay often starts small and may not cause pain at first, but over time, it can lead to sensitivity, toothaches, and even infections.
How can I improve my oral hygiene routine?
You can improve your oral hygiene routine if you brush for two minutes twice a day. Remember to floss before you brush to remove food and bacteria from between your teeth. Replacing your toothbrush regularly will also help. If you don’t replace your toothbrush, it can harvest bacteria that can transfer to your teeth. We recommend that you replace your toothbrush or brush head every 3 months.
What color are healthy teeth?
The majority of healthy teeth have a yellowish tint. Although people commonly desire whiter teeth, healthy teeth may have a yellow color. The dentin consists of a thick yellow tissue in the tooth’s center, so your teeth may look yellow.
How often should I floss?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. Flossing is important because it removes plaque and food particles from places your toothbrush can’t reach, like between your teeth and under the gumline.
If you don’t floss, harmful bacteria can build on your teeth and gums. This bacteria can lead to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. You can keep your gums healthy and prevent tooth decay when you take a few minutes to floss every day.
Should you rinse with water after brushing your teeth?
Don’t rinse with water right after you brush your teeth. When you brush, the toothpaste leaves behind fluoride that helps protect your teeth from cavities. If you rinse with water, you wash away the fluoride and reduce its benefits. Instead, you can spit out the extra toothpaste and let a thin layer stay on your teeth.
Schedule a Dental Consultation
Let us help you improve your oral hygiene routine in our Philadelphia, PA, dental office. Call Opus Dental Esthetics to get routine cleanings and exams at (215) 395-6076. You can also request an appointment with us online. We’re proud to serve patients in Center City, Logan Square, and Washington Square West.