Dental Cleanings & Exams in Paoli, PA
Healthy, problem-free smiles start with prevention at M Shah DMD & Associates, including excellent brushing and flossing at home and regular dental exams and teeth cleanings at our Paoli, PA, dental office.
How to Avoid Cavities & Gum Disease
Preventive dentistry relies on a proactive approach to dental care. There are some straightforward steps you can take to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime, including:
- Stay current with routine exams and teeth cleanings
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once
- Talk to your dentist about additional fluoride and dental sealants for your family
- Reduce your intake of sugary or acidic foods and drinks
We recommend teeth cleanings and exams every six months for most patients based on the recommendation of the American Dental Association. However, you have unique dental needs, and we will create a customized treatment plan and schedule to meet them.
Patients who follow these recommendations tend to have fewer cavities, fewer incidences of periodontal disease, fewer dental emergencies, and a reduced risk of tooth loss.
What Happens during a Dental Exam?
At M Shah DMD & Associates, we treat our patients as we want our own families to be treated, and our caring dental team does everything to ensure you have a comfortable experience.
A dental exam is a discovery mission to determine your oral health needs. First, our dentists will review your oral and medical healthy histories and the list of medications you take. They'll also ask if you've noticed any oral health changes since your last visit or if you have a specific concern you'd like us to address.
Dr. Shah or Dr. Logan will then perform a comprehensive examination, which includes:
- Identifying your risk level for cavities
- Checking the condition of each tooth
- Noting signs of tooth decay or dental wear
- Checking the condition of existing dental work
- Evaluating your dental bite
- Performing an oral cancer screening
Because we use intraoral cameras, you can participate actively in your exam. As our dentists share live images of your mouth on your chairside monitor, they point out areas of concern, explain what they mean for your oral health, and review the benefits of treating them.
The Importance of Excellent Gum Health
There are no healthy teeth without healthy gums, so routine hygiene appointments are another essential part of oral health care. Gum disease is a significant problem that affects nearly half of all US adults, but it isn't just about your oral health.
What happens in your mouth also affects your body. Research links chronic gum inflammation to numerous health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, dementia, and low birthweight babies.
What to Expect during a Dental Cleaning?
Your first hygiene appointment helps your dental team establish a baseline for your gum health. If there are no signs of gum disease, your hygienist will provide a routine teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
If they find signs of early gum disease called gingivitis, this cleaning, along with improved brushing and flossing at home, will likely be enough to resolve it.
Gingivitis is reversible; advanced gum disease called periodontitis is not. However, we can manage the disease and help prevent it from worsening with a specialized periodontal deep cleaning called scaling and root planing.
Do You Need to Schedule Your Next Dental Checkup?
It's not difficult to prevent cavities and gum disease and avoid the discomfort and costs associated with complex dental problems. It does require a team effort, however, and at M Shah DMD & Associates, we create partnerships with our patients to help them achieve long-lasting oral health.
If you're due for a routine dental checkup and teeth cleaning, please call our Paoli, PA, dental office to schedule a convenient appointment. We are also pleased to serve all surrounding communities in Chester County, including Malvern, Berwyn, Wayne, Frazer, Whitehorse Farms, and Devault.
