Our dental health is just as important as any part of our body. A good set of teeth, healthy gums and mouth verifies a well-maintained dental state. Preserving a healthy dental composition could be costly, so the question is how much does a dental checkup cost? It’s better to check with your dentist the cost for each service that they offer. Having dental insurance can help you in minimizing your dental checkup expenses.
Importance Of Regular Dental Checkup
A regular visit to the dentist for at least twice a year or every six months will help in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. The dentist in Gordon at Gordon Family Dental clinic will examine the condition of your mouth to determine the treatments or dental work services that will best suit you.
Dental x-rays will detect hidden cavities between your teeth. The dentist will also check the plaque and tartar on your teeth. A plaque is a clear layer of bacteria that can be removed with the right dental tools and the help of a dental professional.
Gums are also examined during a dental checkup. This procedure will determine the depth of space between your teeth and gums, a healthy gum has shallow spaces while deep spaces could indicate gum diseases.
The dentist will also check the condition of the tongue, face, head, neck, and throat, some of the body parts that could be directly affected by an unhealthy dental condition.
Regular brushing and flossing can prevent plenty of dental problems, but a professional dental cleaning after your checkup will help in removing all the tartar in your teeth. This dental work is called scaling, after which, the teeth will be polished and flossed leaving the patient with a cleaner set of gums and teeth.
Things To Do In Between Dental Checkups
Daily oral care is essential in order to keep our mouth clean. A single dental problem could cost you a lot of money, most especially if you do not own any dental insurance.
Below are the important things to do regularly to maintain a healthy mouth and to prevent any dental issues.
- Regular brushing of teeth. Brushing teeth is commonly taught since childhood. Kinds of toothpaste with fluoride are highly recommended by dentists. Fluoride is a kind of mineral that helps in building strong, it is also essential in keeping away cavities.
- Flossing. Flossing at the end of the day is enough to clean the areas that toothbrushes can’t clean. It removes food particles and plaque that get stuck in between your teeth.
- Mouthwash. The unremoved plaque will invite bacterias in the mouth. Using mouthwash regularly will help in controlling bacterias. It will also leave you with fresher breath.
Different Kinds of Dental Services
There are plenty of dental services available to everyone nowadays to tend to any kind of dental problem. Here are the types of dental services that dental professionals provide;
- Cosmetic dentistry services- from the word itself “cosmetic”, this procedure is done in order to improve the appearance of the patient. Cosmetic dentistry involves adding materials to the teeth such as veneers and crowns. Some examples of cosmetic surgery are teeth shaping, teeth bonding, and dental implants
- Pediatric dental services- this dental work specializes in tending to younger patients most commonly to children. A pediatric dentist can provide demonstrations on how a child could properly brush and floss their young teeth. Aside from this, they also monitor the development of the child’s dental condition associated with their childhood disease.
- Periodontol treatment- this is one of the most essential types of dental services. This specializes in cleaning the teeth and gums to prevent any gum diseases caused by bacteria. Periodontal services also include diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the teeth supporting structures.
- Endodontic procedures- endodontic dentists specialize in maintaining healthy teeth by the endodontic approach. This procedure involves root canal therapy. Patients with damaged, diseased, or infected inner tooth will most likely be endorsed to an endodontist.
- Diagnostic and preventive dental care– generally speaking, almost all dentists provide this kind of service. This type of dental service includes oral examinations to prevent dental issues from happening. This procedure may include x-rays, fluoride treatments, and normal oral cleaning.
- Orthodontic Services- this dental practice focuses on improving the alignment of the teeth and jaw. In this procedure, the dentist will examine the condition of the teeth, dental overbites, underbites, and teeth misalignment are some of the things that an orthodontist treats. Orthodontics also include dental braces and retainers.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery- this type of service works in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of dental diseases, defects and injuries in the head, face, neck, jaws, and all parts of the oral and maxillofacial area. This surgery is responsible for reinstating the aesthetic appearance of the patient. Some examples of this surgery are tooth extractions, corrective jaw surgery, and correcting cleft palates.
- Prosthodontic- a prosthodontist specializes in restoring a missing tooth and fixing jaw formation. They are also responsible for the designing, manufacturing, and fitting of the replacements for the missing or damaged teeth. Examples of this dental work include dental implants and dentures.
Some of these services and procedures especially those that include surgery can get very expensive. Prepare yourself for an emergency dental situation by availing a dental insurance policy that can cover a wide spectrum of dental services.
Preparing For A Dental Surgery
It could get a little overwhelming if you haven’t gone through any kind of dental surgery. But preparing yourself before an oral surgery could greatly help you. Your doctor will provide pre-operative instructions that you will need to follow thoroughly to prevent complications.
One way to prepare for oral surgery is to avoid smoking at least 12 hrs before the surgery. Smoking has a huge impact on the respiratory of the body, it is advised to be avoided before surgery because it ultimately affects the anesthesia. A smoker would need a higher amount of anesthesia than a non-smoker.
Eating and drinking for 8 to 12 hours before surgery are both not allowed as well. Anesthesia is needed in order to have a flawless and smooth operation, if you have food and water in your stomach, there is going to be a risk of vomiting or food going up into your throat.
You must also prepare how you dress for your operation. Wearing of short-sleeved and loose clothing will help in keeping you comfortable throughout the whole surgery. It is also recommended to avoid wearing jewelry as you may be asked to remove it anyway.
Contact lenses are also not advisable since your eyes will remain shut for a long period of time. Do not wear any makeup and lipstick, if possible, do not wear any perfumes and colognes as well. Long and voluminous hair must be tied up because it might distract the dentist while doing the operation.
You may also opt to prepare for your post-operation. Dentists advise soft foods that require little effort in chewing e.g. oatmeals and soups. Avoid spicy and acidic foods in the meantime to prevent gum irritation. Choose foods and drinks that are excellent sources of nutrients to ensure a fast recovery.
If irritation and complications occur during your recovery period, it is best to consult your dentist right away. You can go to Lyndarum Dentist’s clinic in Epping if you need more expert help.
