Dental Exams & Check-ups
General Dental Services in North and West Vancouver
At your first dental visit a complete dental exam will be done by your dentist. At that time and at following regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will include:
- Diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): to find decay, tumours, cysts, bone loss and tooth positions.
- Oral cancer screening: to check your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
- Gum disease evaluation: to check your gums and bone around your teeth for any signs of periodontal (gum) disease.
- Examination of tooth surfaces: to check for decay with special dental instruments.
- Examination of existing restorations: to check your fillings, crowns, veneers etc.
Professional Dental Cleaning
A dental cleaning usually consists of the following procedures:
- Scaling – is the removal of debris that has hardened onto the tooth. This hardened debris is called Calculus. Calculus is very rough and can irritate the gums and cause potential gum and bone loss and subsequent infection. Scaling can be done with hand instruments and/or an ultrasonic scaler, which helps to remove more stubborn build-up.
- Prophy or Polishing of the teeth – polishing removes the stains and smoothes the surface of the teeth so debris cannot stick to the teeth as easily.
- Fluoride – typically we give our patients a topical fluoride varnish at the end of their cleaning appointment. This fluoride treatment helps to make the teeth more resistant to cavities.
