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Your
regularly scheduled check-up is often referred
to as a "cleaning", but there is much
more to it than that! The technical term is
oral prophylaxis, which means prevention
of oral disease.
One
way to prevent oral disease is to remove harmful
plaque and tartar (calculus) both above and
below the gum line. You and your child may also
be given special instructions on brushing or
flossing to keep clean the areas where we found
significant buildup. That is the familiar "cleaning"
part of their checkup.
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It's
easy to tell which tooth has been "cleaned"
in this photo!
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Another way
to prevent oral disease is by early detection and treatment. During your child's
checkup they will be screened for many potential threats to their oral health,
including:
In addition,
some systemic diseases, such as diabetes, often present themselves first inside
the mouth, so early detection extends beyond just oral disease.
The Dental
Hygienist is your first-line of defense against oral disease. The hygienist
is a highly trained professional who can evaluate your child's teeth and gums,
both visually and with the assistance of x-rays and other modern technology,
to discover threats to your oral or general health. Dr. Watts
will review the findings of the hygienist and advise you on any threats to
your child's oral or general health.
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