Regular dental exams incorporating professional teeth cleaning are the keystone of preventive dentistry and its focus on minimizing or avoiding oral health issues.

Routine check-ups and cleanings play a crucial role in helping to keep your teeth and gums healthy. A healthy mouth can also help to protect the rest of your body from serious medical disorders.

Oral infections can spread to other parts of your body, including vital organs. Furthermore, monitoring your dental health can detect signs of existing issues with your overall well being that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The importance of dental exams and cleanings is further underscored by the financial benefits. Making sure your oral health stays in good condition can avoid costly dental procedures later.

Benefits of Dental Exams
During your routine check-up, your dentist will look for any signs of tooth decay and resulting cavities. These problems can infect tooth pulp – the soft tissue in the centre of a tooth – and spread to its root and beyond.

One warning sign of potential tooth decay is an accumulation of plaque and tartar, which can also cause gum disease.

However, there’s much more to a dental exam than checking for decay and cavities. Dental check-ups can point to many other issues, including:

Oral cancer. Most cancers of the mouth or throat are initially diagnosed by dentists during routine check-ups. The survival rate for cancer is good if the disease is detected during the early stages.
Gum disease. Deep spaces between your gums and teeth can indicate gum disease (periodontal disease) – a leading cause of tooth loss. According to the Canadian Dental Association, 70 per cent of the population will get gum disease at some time in their lives the caviar collection.
Multiple medical conditions. Your dentist will check whether you have bad breath (halitosis), which can be caused by a variety of issues, including a yeast infection of the mouth, lung problems, or diabetes