Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning in St. Clair Shores

Do You Need a Dentist for a Professional Cleaning or a Dental Exam in St. Clair Shores?

When you come in for your initial appointment, we’ll take a detailed medical history, ask about medications you are on and take X-rays. If you have a specific concern, our dentist will address it first; otherwise, you’ll have a comprehensive dental exam to check for:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Bone loss
• Teeth grinding
• Oral cancer
• Loose or broken restorations

Our dentists suggest that patients in good dental health have a routine dental exam every six months, along with a professional cleaning. If our dentist discovers any cavities or other problem, he or she will discuss your treatment options with you. Feel free to ask questions about his or her recommendations and to express your concerns. Patients with a high risk for decay or gum disease may need to have an exam more often.

To arrange an initial appointment, call our office today. We look forward to meeting you.

Where Can I Go for a Professional Cleaning and Gum Disease Treatment?
We offer professional teeth cleaning, which most of our patients get twice a year before their dental exam. Cleanings remove plaque from difficult-to-reach areas that people often miss with regular brushing and flossing. If the plaque builds up on your teeth, it hardens, causes bad breath and eventually causes tooth decay as the plaque eats away at your teeth. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove hardened plaque, using a special instrument that scrapes it off. Your teeth will also look brighter after a cleaning since the hygienist will use a gritty toothpaste which removes surface stains and polishes the teeth.

Gingivitis is an infection that attacks the gum area surrounding your tooth. Poor oral hygiene, not having regular dental cleanings, pregnancy, medications or smoking can cause gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums will be bright red, swollen and puffy. They may look stretched as bacteria are swelling the tissue underneath your gums. They will probably bleed as you brush your teeth. Call us right away if you notice these symptoms. Untreated gingivitis may advance to periodontal disease. While we offer periodontal treatment, it’s better not to let the disease progress, since the treatment is more aggressive. Gingivitis is not only treatable, it is reversible.

What Kinds of Remedies Do Dentists Have for Bad Breath?

Most people experience occasional bad breath after eating onions, garlic or other foods. This is normal, even when bad breath lasts for hours. If you have chronic bad breath, or halitosis, our dentist may be able to help. The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene. Our dentist can go over your oral care habits and give you a professional dental cleaning to get rid of plaque and tartar to make it easier for you to keep your teeth clean at home. If the problem isn’t with your oral hygiene, our dentist will check for decay and gum disease, which can also cause bad breath. If you take any medication that reduces saliva flow and makes your mouth feel dry, this may also cause bad breath. Chewing sugarless gum often relieves the problem, but if it doesn’t, our dentist can suggest alternatives.

How Do I Know If I Need an Oral Cancer Screening?

People diagnosed with oral cancer have a high survival rate when a dentist or doctor catches the disease early, before it spreads. Our dentist wants to make sure our patients understand that a simple screening during a routine exam can catch oral cancer early, so we screen everyone over age 18. Oral cancer is more prevalent in older adults, but 25 percent of all new cases are in individuals younger than 55 years old. Many cases of oral cancer in younger adults are linked to HPV. We try to build awareness of the disease and make our patients aware of risk factors, such as tobacco use. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, up to 90 percent of people diagnosed with oral cancer use tobacco. People without risk factors can also get oral cancer, so everyone should have a painless, quick screening during their routine exam.

If you’ve been putting off finding a dentist for a dental exam in St. Clair Shores, our offer to screen for oral cancer at the same time should encourage you to act. Call our office today to schedule your appointment.