While home oral maintenance is important, it focuses only on areas of the teeth above the gum line. A professional dental cleaning not only cleans your teeth above the gum lines, but also below the gum line. Dental hygienists are specifically trained to remove the plaque and tartar that live in those hard-to-reach places around your teeth. Your regular dental visits should occur every 3-6 months depending on your individual risk assessment. It is important to keep in mind that dental visits do not replace regular brushing and flossing.
Regular Cleanings and Checkups help Maintain Optimal Oral Health!
What is Plaque?
Plaque is an entire colony of bacteria in your mouth that lives off of your saliva and the food you consume. This type of bacteria is sticky and mostly invisible. It can produce toxins that damage your gums. Damaged and inflamed gums is the gateway to more severe disease that can occur not only in your mouth but throughout your entire body!
What is Tartar?
Tartar, also known as calculus, is plaque that has hardened in the mouth. It can form above and below the gums and is typically very difficult to remove. The excellent hygiene team at Canyon Dental Centre knows how to properly remove tartar with specialized tools to keep your teeth healthy and clean!
What Happens at A Dental Hygiene Appointment?
The most vital aspects of dental hygiene are detection and prevention. In addition to cleaning your teeth above and below the gum line, our dental team will perform many important health checks at your professional hygiene appointment:
- Polishing your teeth to remove any surface stains.
- A complete and comprehensive oral health exam, checking for signs of disease, infection, cavities, and structural issues. To aid in the exam, digital X-rays, or radiographs, may be used to give an internal insight into your oral health and allow your dentist to forecast issues that can often remain silent until late stages, such as cavities, gum disease and impacted wisdom teeth.
- Fluoride treatment (if chosen) to help prevent cavities from developing and help strengthen the surface of enamel. If a patient has a history of dental decay, a high carbohydrate intake, poor hygiene habits or sensitive roots, teeth can be coated with fluoride which will help prevent tooth decay and sensitivity.
- An Oral Cancer Screening and exam at least once a year to check the head, neck, and jaw area for confirmation of health and any signs of oral cancer.
- Discussion of a treatment plan to be used to treat any existing conditions
Guided Biofilm Therapy
At Canyon Dental, one of our goals is making the latest technology accessible to our patients. After nearly 40 years of minimal advancements in the way we clean teeth, thanks to Switzerland’s EMS Medical, we can now proudly offer our patients Guide Biofilm Therapy. This low abrasive air polishing system using an erythritol powder has quickly become the new gold standard for dental hygiene
treatment.
What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?
Guided Biofilm Therapy is the systematic, predictable solution for dental
biofilm management following an 8 step evidence based protocol. The
treatment is given in the least invasive way, with the highest level of comfort,
safety and efficiency.
Why Must Biofilm be Removed?
Harmful bacterial thrive in biofilm. These bacteria are the main cause of tooth
decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Pathogenic bacteria originating in the oral
cavity can also enter the systemic circulation and have been associated with
over 57 systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Cardiovascular disease,
pancreatic cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis and more. It is
critical that these bacterial be completely removed to ensure a healthy mouth
and body.
How Often Should You Visit Us for an Oral Hygiene Checkup and Cleaning?
Regular professional examinations reduce the risk of tooth loss and are necessary to avoid future invasive dental procedures such as root canals or extractions. Preventative care is the best care! Canyon Dental Centre understands that every patient will require a different hygiene and checkup schedule. Most people visit our clinic for a dental hygiene appointment every 3-6 months. How often you visit your dentist depends on many factors including your individual risk assessment. Your dentist will discuss with you a personalized hygiene schedule that makes sense based on your specific circumstances and goals.
