Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings San Marcos
Don’t Let Cavities
Catch You Off Guard
Think you don’t have time for dental checkups? By making room in your schedule now, you can avoid developing severe oral health problems that will require additional treatment. Dr. Nelson Y. Howard recommends coming in for an appointment at least once every 6 months (or twice a year) for an examination as well as a routine cleaning. This way, we can stop cavities and gum disease in their earliest stages. Contact us today to schedule your next visit for dental checkups and teeth cleanings in our San Marcos dental office!
Why Choose Nelson Y. Howard, D.D.S. for Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings?
- Advanced Technology for Comfortable Treatments
- Highly Skilled, Experienced, and Reputable Dentist
- Team Delivers High Level of Customer Service
Why Do You Need Regular Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings?
As you probably know, there are bacteria on your teeth that can form plaque; if this substance isn’t cleaned off, it can lead to cavities and gum disease. Cavities weaken the structure of your tooth and can result in painful toothaches. Gum disease starts out relatively mild, but if left untreated you could end up experiencing severe tooth loss.
Of course, brushing and flossing every day can help you get rid of a lot of plaque and keep your mouth healthy. Unfortunately, there are many surfaces in your mouth that you just won’t be able to reach on your own, and you can easily overlook some areas without meaning to. This is bad because plaque that’s been left alone for too long becomes tartar, a much harder substance that you can’t take off with dental floss or a regular toothbrush. Only a dentist has precise, tooth-contoured instruments needed for a thorough cleaning that will remove as much plaque and tartar as possible.
In addition to cleaning, regular checkups let us find oral health problems at their earliest stages when the symptoms are less noticeable. This is important because it’s usually easier to treat such issues before they become too severe. (For example, a small cavity can be filled, but if it’s already resulted in an infection, you might need a root canal to save the tooth.) Basically, having a checkup and cleaning done now will save you a lot of trouble in the future.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup and Teeth Cleaning
During your dental cleaning, we’ll use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar that’s collected above and below the gum line. We’ll also clean between every tooth before polishing your teeth to get rid of any residue that’s left over. The polishing will also smooth the surface and make it more difficult for plaque to collect.
As for the checkup, we’ll look for signs of tooth decay and gum disease, but we’ll also check for oral manifestations of other health problems. For example, we could find red or white patches warning of oral cancer. Depending on what’s found, Dr. Howard will develop a treatment plan for you.
Haven’t Seen the Dentist in a While? Call Us Today!
If it’s been too long since your last appointment, a checkup and cleaning could be vital for keeping your smile healthy and bright. Call Dr. Howard today to get the care you need to avoid cavities and gum disease from taking over your mouth.