What to Expect During Your Dental Prophylaxis Appointment
A prophylaxis dental appointment is a routine, preventive procedure. Your dental hygienist will update your medical history to see if there have been any changes in your health, such as pregnancy, new diagnosis, medications, or other updates. As a preventive measure, they will also do a physical and visual examination of your mouth and neck to screen for oral cancer.
X-Rays
X-rays help your dental professional discover potential oral health problems that aren't visible to the naked eye, like cavities, for example. When your dental professional decides it's time for you to get X-rays, you will probably get bite-wing X-rays of your molar and premolar teeth. Some dental practices also take pictures of the anterior incisor teeth, which are in the front of your bite.
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration created dental radiographic examination guidelines to help dentists with their professional judgment on how best to use this type of imaging. The ADA also recommends that your dentist have a conversation with you about their plan for X-rays so that you can make decisions together.
If you have excellent oral health and regularly see your dental professional, they may recommend X-rays less often than if you're at risk for oral health issues. Factors that dental professionals consider when determining the frequency at which you should get X-rays include the following:
- Age
- Oral health
- Risk for disease
- If you already have signs of oral disease
- Discomfort in your mouth
Periodontal Probing
Once your dental hygienist updates your medical history, they will visually examine your gum tissue and conduct a periodontal probing. This involves measuring the depth of your gum tissue with a tool known as a periodontal probe. It's crucial to measure gum tissue because our gums should fit snug around our teeth. Due to poor oral hygiene, age, or medical conditions, our gums may pull away from our teeth, creating pockets where food particles and bacteria can get stuck.
Besides periodontal probing, your dental hygienist will inspect your teeth. This is to alert your dentist of any areas that should be checked for potential tooth decay. Lastly, they will perform a dental cleaning using special instruments (ultrasonic and hand) to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and beneath your gumline. Your hygienist will also polish your teeth to remove tooth stains and then clean between your teeth with floss (also known as interdental cleaning).
Ongoing Oral Care Recommendations
Your dental hygienist is an excellent source of knowledge for questions and concerns surrounding at-home oral care. They can make recommendations for taking better care of your mouth and demonstrate proper oral care techniques. They'll remind you to brush your teeth twice per day, floss once per day, and use a mouthwash. Following your dental hygienist's work, your dentist will then perform a full examination of your mouth. This includes examining your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth for signs of disease, and reviewing any X-rays that were taken.
