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General Dentistry

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Routine Dental Checkups

Regular visits to a Frisco dentist can provide insight into your oral health, as well as your overall health. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums can help prevent injury or illness to your mouth. Seeing a dentist regularly can help you identify issues before they become serious. When you arrive at either our Frisco location or our Richardson location, you’ll be greeted by one of our friendly staff members, and they’ll register you for your checkup. Wondering what’s involved in a general checkup from Signature Dental?

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, we know it might seem overwhelming to see a new dentist, but we make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect from a general checkup in either one of Signature Dental’s locations.

Why Are General Checkups Important?

A general checkup is a chance for you and your dental team to talk about your teeth, gums, and any issues or concerns you might have since you last visited us, or any other dental office. If you have questions for your dental team, be sure to bring them up during your checkup. You’ll have digital x-rays taken of your teeth and gums to ensure there are no issues that are not visible to the naked eye, and your hygienist will examine your teeth and clean them thoroughly.

A regular deep cleaning is important to remove tartar (plaque that has not been removed and has hardened on the teeth). Tartar is removed by scaling, which can only be done in a dental office by a trained professional. If you decide to skip your dental checkup, you increase your risk of bacteria forming under the tartar and causing gum disease, infection, and more. Also, regular dental checkups provide detailed information about your oral health, and your dentist can track changes over time to ensure you’re maintaining good oral health. Regular checkups make it easier to check for new issues have developed since your last visit.

What Is a General Checkup at the Dentist?

A general checkup includes working with one of our professionally trained dental hygienists who will clean your teeth using a series of instruments and techniques. These methods include:

  • Scaling to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line
  • Polishing your teeth to remove surface stains and make them smooth
  • Taking a history of your oral health to document for your file
  • Examining your teeth for any damage or signs of infection
  • Applying a fluoride treatment to keep your teeth healthy
  • Assisting the dentist in their exam

What Does a Dentist’s Exam Include?

The dentist’s exam includes a thorough examination of your entire mouth, including the gums and tongue. Your dentist will look at all your teeth and relay any pertinent information to the hygienist. The hygienist will record the information in your file using our chair-side computers. Dentists look for any abnormalities in the x-rays, including bone loss, cracked teeth, gum recession, cavities, and more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can ask them of the dentist at this time.

You’ll usually hear the dentist and the hygienist discussing the cleaning procedure. Sharing of information between the hygienist and the dentist is important to get a full picture of your oral health. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss your oral health with your dentist, and together you’ll make a plan for any treatments that are necessary for helping you maintain strong and long-lasting teeth.

What Happens After a Checkup?

A general checkup usually ends by booking another appointment for 9-12 months in the future. Children typically have checkups every 6-9 months to ensure their teeth are growing at a proper rate and to ensure there are no complications with their growth of their mouth and jaw. If any additional treatments are necessary, appointments will be made to complete the work discussed. These treatments may include such procedures as filling cavities, being fitted for mouthguards, restoring a broken tooth, or starting the process of getting dental implants.

Contact Signature Dental

Contact Signature Dental at our Frisco or Richardson, Texas office if you’re searching for a new dentist or need to book an appointment. We offer various preventative (such as teeth cleaning), restorative, and cosmetic dentistry services to meet your needs. Don’t delay reaching out to one of our professional and knowledgeable staff members to discuss your checkup appointment today.