Dental Checkups and Cleanings in Erlanger
The Importance of Seeing Your Erlanger Dentist Every Six Months
Your family dentist in Erlanger KY is passionate about providing preventive care to help you maintain healthy teeth for life. Consider your dental checkups and professional cleanings an investment in your oral health, as skipping even one appointment can allow tooth decay or other problems to progress to a point where you need invasive treatments. Although equipped to handle the toughest dental cases, Dr. Henry would much rather see you under the happier circumstances of a routine checkup. Even if signs of an oral health issue are present, seeing Dr. Henry every six months ensures that it will be caught early enough to be treated conservatively.
Staying Abreast of Your Oral Health with Checkups
Many patients think that only their teeth and gums are up for inspection at a checkup, but Dr. Henry’s examination goes much further than that. In addition to checking for signs of tooth decay and gum disease, she will perform a thorough oral cancer screening using the advanced technology of VELscope. Likewise, she employs state-of-the-art OralDNA testing to screen for HPV and periodontal disease. Dr. Henry also checks your teeth for abnormal wear and your jaw joints for imbalances to determine if you are suffering the strain of teeth grinding or TMJ dysfunction. These oral health issues, while treatable at any stage, are more easily treated the earlier they are caught. Additionally, early detection prevents further damage to your oral or general health.
Teeth Cleaning Services
A teeth cleaning by Dr. Henry’s exceptional hygienist Cindy extends beyond a simple polishing of your teeth. To help prevent gum disease, which is the number one cause of tooth loss among Americans, your professional cleaning involves removing tartar. This hard substance, which is formed from mineralized plaque, cannot be removed with regular brushing and requires removal with a special dental instrument. If tartar is not removed along the gum line, it will cause a separation of your gums from your teeth and create an inviting space for bacteria to collect, which will cause gum disease. Your hygienist will remove tartar from the teeth using an ultrasonic scaler, which uses vibration and a steady stream of water to break up and wash away the hard calculus. If you already have the early stages of gum disease, she will use the ultrasonic scaler to clean your teeth below the gum line, smoothing out the tooth root surfaces and removing bacteria so that your gums will form a healthy reattachment to your teeth.
For personalized general and cosmetic dental care in northern Kentucky, contact Dr. Darlene Henry today to schedule an appointment.