Oral Hygiene
Having routine scale and cleans is an essential part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Since it’s not always possible to prevent plaque and tartar buildup in hard-to-reach areas, professional cleans are vital to your smile’s wellness.
How Often Do I Need a Clean?
The frequency of preventative appointments varies on a case-by-case basis. For some people, we need to see them every six months for a scale and clean. Others may only need to book a recall appointment every 9-12 months for maintenance purposes.
We can pre-book your appointment at each visit or send you a reminder card when it’s time to schedule the next clean. Let us know which one is more convenient!
The Link Between Oral and Overall Health
Current research suggests a strong relationship between periodontal (gum) health and other health issues. Some of the latest findings even link oral bacteria with things like oral cancer and Alzheimer’s. Cardiovascular health — including blood pressure, stroke and heart attack — also show a positive correlation with oral bacteria and wellness.
Today we know that specific risk factors can raise your risk of certain ailments, but oral bacteria and viruses are just as responsible. Even if you do not drink or use tobacco products, your oral health and genetic predisposition may increase your chances of developing a disease.
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy isn’t just important for your smile; it’s crucial to good overall wellness.
What’s Happening During My Checkup?
During your preventative care appointment, we’ll do things like:
- Examine your teeth
- Measure your gum levels
- Evaluate bone height and density
- Update X-rays as needed
- Screen for tooth decay
- Assess existing dental work
- Perform an oral cancer screening
- Scale, clean and polish your teeth
For most individuals, you’ll have your teeth cleaned twice per year and examined by the dentist annually, unless there are specific concerns.
Customised Care Plans
If you show signs of periodontal infection — including gum and bone loss — we’ll create a customised plan to intervene as quickly as possible.
Periodontal therapy (deep cleans/scaling and root planing) may be necessary to restore your mouth to an appropriate level of health. When everything has been thoroughly cleaned, we’ll initially plan for a three-month re-care schedule until we get your gums in a holding pattern. Ultimately, we want to improve your oral health to the point where we only need to see you every six months.
ARE YOU DUE FOR A SCALE AND CLEAN?
Don’t let gum disease ruin your smile or your quality of life. Contact us today for a fully customised oral hygiene Margaret River program!
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.