Professional Cleanings, Exams and X-Rays
San Carlos, CAKeeping your teeth healthy and your smile bright is a team effort. While you can certainly help maintain the health and appearance of your teeth at home, you still need to set aside a little bit of time out of your schedule every six months to see us.
We here at Frank Hsu, D.D.S. absolutely understand that some individuals may have a very serious fear of dentists and dental procedures (which is called dentophobia), but we want to assure you that routine dental appointments and professional cleanings can actually help reduce any discomfort you may experience while in our exam chair.
What Happens During a Dental Exam?
During your dental exam, we will start by taking your medical history and asking you if you have any specific concerns that you would like to address during your appointment. Next, we will have you get comfortable in our exam chair as we start the exam.
There are a few things that you may expect to happen during your exam with us. We may start with a dental cleaning to remove any hardened buildup (also known as calculus) from your teeth. We will also assess your oral health and the health of your gums. We will check for any signs of tooth decay or (such as periodontitis or gingivitis). We will also look at your bite and dental alignment. During your exam, we will also check for any signs of oral cancer, which can be hard to detect on your own.
 X-rays (Radiographs)
Why We Recommend Digital X-RaysWe typically recommend dental X-rays if it has been longer than two years since your last set of X-rays. We may also advise them if you have any concerns, or if we find any concerns, during your exam. At our office, we use digital X-rays. We prefer them for many reasons, as they have many advantages over traditional X-rays. For instance, they have less radiation, which makes them quite safe for our patients.
We also get instant results from digital X-rays, which are backed up digitally. That can help improve our quality of care. When we take a digital X-ray, we can see your teeth more clearly. We can zoom in on problem areas and adjust brightness or contrast to allow us to focus on problem areas better.
How We Clean Your Teeth
When we clean your teeth, we will first begin by scaling them. This is a special tool that removes the calculus from your teeth, getting them nice and clean. We will then floss your teeth for you. Some patients notice blood in their mouth during this portion of the cleaning; if this happens to you, stay calm! It may just mean that you need to floss more at home.
Next, we will polish your teeth for you using a gritty toothpaste. This can help smooth them and remove any remaining debris. Finally, we may offer you a fluoride rinse to help strengthen and re-mineralize your teeth.
A dental exam with professional cleaning can help keep your teeth healthy and free from pain and discomfort. If it has been longer than six months since your last appointment with us, or you would like to learn more about the importance of regular exams with cleanings, please give us here at Frank Hsu, D.D.S. a call today at 650.262.1940!
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