Cleanings and Exams
Regular dental cleanings and exams are the most affordable and effective way to protect oral health. Most people should get these checkups once every six months. An annual checkup might be enough for people at low risk of cavities and gum disease, but people at high risk might need three or more yearly checkups.
Benefits of Regular Dental Checkups
Regular dental checkups are excellent for maintaining oral and overall health. When you get dental checkups, you can:
- Keep your smile bright and beautiful
- Learn if your home hygiene routine is adequate
- Enjoy peace of mind
- Identify dental problems early
- Protect your overall health
- Keep healthcare bills down
- Learn if your home hygiene routine is adequate
- Enjoy peace of mind
- Keep your smile bright and beautiful
- Identify dental problems early
- Protect your overall health
- Keep healthcare bills down
At your dental checkup, you’ll start with a professional cleaning. We’ll remove unsightly deposits of tartar–hardened plaque–and polish your teeth. This will help keep your smile shining. Plus, your teeth will feel clean–you’ll be happy to show it off.
When we clean your teeth, we’ll figure out if there are places where you need to work harder at cleaning during your daily home hygiene. If you need help, we can teach you the best techniques or direct you to different tools to make home hygiene easier and more effective.
Regular dental checkups will also give you peace of mind. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing that you’ve gotten a clean bill of oral health. If there are problems, we can treat them quickly and inexpensively.
Dental checkups don’t just help your oral health; they can help you stay healthy overall. Tooth decay and gum disease are linked to severe health problems. Keeping your mouth healthy can help you keep your body healthy, too.
With regular dental checkups, you can help to keep your healthcare costs down. Not only will you avoid expensive dental treatments by identifying problems early, but you can also cut down on other expenses. Studies show that people with gum disease, for example, often pay thousands of dollars more a year to manage a wide range of conditions, from diabetes to stroke. We’ll talk more about the mouth-body connection in gum disease treatment.
Dental X-Rays
A visual inspection of your teeth can tell us a lot, but sometimes, we need to see more. This is what dental X-rays do: they show us parts of your teeth that we can’t see with the eye. We will recommend regular dental x-rays. Don’t worry; these are digital X-rays with very low exposure, so there’s no risk of getting dental X-rays every year.
Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is when oral bacteria infect the space around your teeth. That’s why it’s also called periodontal disease, since “perio-” means around and “-dont” means tooth.
Mild gum disease is called gingivitis. Your gums get red, swollen, and tender. They may bleed occasionally when you brush, floss, or eat. A more serious gum disease is called periodontitis. You may experience more noticeable symptoms, including:
- Chronic bad breath
- Spontaneous bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Shifting teeth
- Loose teeth
- Tooth loss
If you suspect periodontitis, seeing a dentist as soon as possible is essential.
Dangers of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a danger to more than your teeth. Gum disease is a chronic infection. It’s like having a cut that won’t heal but gets more and more infected. Just as leaving that cut untreated can cause infection to worsen and spread, leaving gum disease untreated can impact your overall health.
Some of the conditions linked to untreated gum disease include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Pneumonia
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis
- Pregnancy complications
The strength of the connection between gum disease and these different conditions varies; in some cases, the science isn’t well established. However, in many cases, there is a strong link, and having untreated gum disease can worsen your health, increase medical bills, and, in some cases, contribute to an early death. With heart disease in particular, there is good evidence that regular dental checkups can help you head off the condition to live longer and healthier.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Gum disease treatment depends on the level of the gum disease. For gingivitis, we might recommend simple changes to your home hygiene routine. More regular professional cleanings and deeper cleanings can help for more serious cases. In severe cases, you might need extractions and/or surgical treatment.
How Can We Help You?
How Can We Help You?
Attractive Fillings
Another common oral health problem is cavities. Cavities form when oral bacteria in your mouth attack your teeth with acid, creating a small hole. This hole traps food and allows bacteria to grow, releasing more acid and enlarging the hole.
The standard treatment for a cavity is a filling. We offer various filling options, from durable and inexpensive amalgam to quick and easy composite fillings to long-lasting and beautiful ceramic fillings. Let us know what matters most, and we’ll find the best fillings for your cavities.
Your Local General Dentist
If you are looking for a general dentist in Erie, PA, consider the high-quality, personalized care you’ll receive at Tucker Dental Excellence. We would love to welcome you to our dental family.
Please call (814) 836-7777 or use our online form today to request an appointment at Tucker Dental Excellence.
