Dental Exams and Teeth Cleaning in the Tampa Bay area

Everyone needs a dental home where they can get regular dental exams, teeth cleanings and treatment for cavities and other issues. Having a dental home will help you maintain good oral health and have no problems speaking or chewing. You want to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. There is nothing like a healthy smile to make you feel at ease meeting new people. Exams let your dentist spot issues before they become major problems. This benefits you as treatment for small issues is easier on you and less expensive than treatment for major problems. These issues can include:

1. Decay (cavities) or white spots where cavities may form without treatment
2. Gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease
3. Signs that you grind your teeth at night
4. The early signs of oral cancer
5. Problems with your jaw, like clicking or TMJ disorders
6. Ill-fitting full or partial dentures
7. Loose restorations or fillings with cracks in them

Yes, even if you have full upper and lower dentures, you still need six-month dental checkups. Our dental hygienist can professionally clean your dentures for you, so they sparkle again. Our dentist will also check the dentures fit and make sure they don't have any cracks in them. You can still get gum disease and oral cancer if you don't have any natural teeth left as well.

If you need a complete dental exam in Tampa Bay area offers both. Our dental cleanings can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque and tartar that can irritate your gums. If you have tartar on your teeth at the gumline, you can't remove it at home. When your gums are irritated, they turn red, appear swollen, and can bleed easily when you brush your teeth. We know this as gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. Gingivitis gum disease treatment consists of a dental cleaning and instruction in better oral hygiene habits.

If you ignore gingivitis, it may turn into periodontal disease, a more advanced form of gum disease. Your gums may separate from your teeth. Pockets form and become filled with bacteria. Periodontal treatment involves a deep dental cleaning and smoothing out the roots so the gums can easily reattach themselves to the teeth. If this isn't successful, there are several surgical options your dentist will explore with you. Your dentist will always choose the least invasive treatment option first. Without treatment, the bacteria can damage the support structures that hold teeth in place. You could lose the teeth.

Many individuals have bad breath at times, either from smoking or eating foods like garlic or drinking coffee. If you're concerned about chronic bad breath, make an appointment to see our dentist in Tampa Bay area. He or she will rule out any oral health problems, like a large cavity with food trapped in it. If your checkup is fine, your dentist will suggest a professional cleaning for your teeth. You'll also learn about proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques to keep bacteria in your mouth at bay. Sometimes plaque that accumulates on the tongue can also cause bad breath, so you'll probably learn about brushing your tongue, too.

We screen all our adult patients every time they come in for a dental checkup. Oral cancer screenings are just visual exams with a dentist feeling for any lumps. Since your dentist is examining your mouth anyway, he or she will also look for the early warning signs of oral cancer. We screen as an early diagnosis increases your prognosis if cancer is found. Dentists don't diagnose oral cancer; they send abnormal tissue samples to a lab so a pathologist can make the diagnosis. Don't worry if your dentist suggests a simple brush biopsy. Dentists err on the side of caution; it does not automatically mean you have mouth cancer.