The Benefits of Checkups & Cleanings
If your goal is a healthy smile, then a good program of proper preventive care should be on your to-do list. Proactively addressing dental problems can eliminate the need for costly, invasive procedures to correct damage that, frankly, could have been avoided. The doctors at Bast Dental Clinic – Dr. Fred Bast and Dr. John Bast – want to help Fairbanks AK residents maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.
Checkups are Essential
A dental checkup doesn’t take a lot of time out of your schedule, but it’s often easy to put off. You may think that, because you’re not experiencing any dental pain or problems, a checkup can wait. But the truth is that some dental issues can begin with few or no noticeable symptoms but then quickly progress to damage your smile. For example, cavities often start as demineralized spots on teeth. These spots don’t hurt, and you don’t know that they’re there. A full-blown cavity, however, will get your full attention!
At your checkup, Dr. Bast will perform a comprehensive examination of each component of your smile. He’ll check your teeth for cavities, assess the health of your gums, and evaluate how your top and bottom rows of teeth line up (called your bite). An oral cancer screening is a comfortable, non-invasive procedure that could prove to be life saving. Dental X-rays will reveal any issues with the underlying structure of your smile and point out cavities that can’t be viewed with the unaided eye.
Your checkup serves as a baseline evaluation of your smile that the doctor will use to evaluate your oral health at subsequent visits. He’ll identify any issues that require observation, provide information on treatments for dental problems that need to be addressed promptly, and give you tips to maintain good oral health.
The Importance of Dental Cleanings
Brushing and flossing at home is essential for a healthy smile, but it’s not enough. A professional dental cleaning removes hardened plaque on teeth and at the gumline to provide a defense against cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and more. Plaque acids and bacteria damage tooth and gum tissue to cause decay and disease. A dental cleaning removes this material to promote good oral health and give you a head start on a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Call Us
We recommend that our Fairbanks dental patients attend six-month checkups and cleanings. If it’s been awhile since you’ve seen us or if it’s time for your checkup and cleaning, give us a call or schedule an appointment. We hope to hear from you soon!