Routine Checkups
What is a Routine Checkup?
At Naples Dental, we are not only concerned with fixing teeth. We professionally clean your teeth, aim to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy, and check for possible issues that may otherwise go undetected and could cause larger health issues. Naples Dental will make sure that your bones are strong and will help you correct any habits that may be hurting your oral health. Here are some of the things we do during your first evaluation or routine checkup:
Oral Cancer Detection
Oral cancer is obviously a very serious disease that manifests itself in a variety of ways. Without regular checkups and early detection, oral cancer is not diagnosed quickly enough and can become life threatening. If detected in it's early stages though, oral cancer can be treated, usually without too much complication.
Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities
For even the most dedicated brushes, there are still many small areas in the mouth that are passed over by a regular brushing and flossing. When plaque builds up it becomes more difficult to remove. Built up plaque solidifies and turns into tartar, which can be almost impossible to remove without a professional.
Routine Checkups
Gum Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It's typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on the teeth and harden. In advanced stages, periodontal disease can lead to sore, bleeding gums; painful chewing problems; and even tooth loss.
Using X-Rays to identify issues below the surface
A very important part of your routine checkup is getting your teeth and jaw bone x-rayed. X-ray images allow us to see what is going on beneath the surfaces of your mouth, and can detect issues that are visible to the naked eye.
Lymph Nodes
Naples Dental will not only check your mouth, gums, and tongue for indications of oral cancer, we also checks your jaw, neck and lymph nodes. As mentioned before, a lot can happen in only 6 months and it's important to have every aspect of your oral health reviewed by a professional.