It’s important to visit your dentist regularly. You should come to your dentist in Kirkland for a checkup once every six months. Why are your checkups so important? There are several things that happen at a checkup that are important for your general oral health.
Even if you’re diligent about your home oral hygiene, you still need professional cleanings at least twice a year. There are some spots in your mouth that are hard to reach with a toothbrush or floss, such as below the gumline. When plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) remains on your teeth for just 24 hours, it begins to harden into calculus (hardened plaque). Calculus is nearly impossible to remove with a toothbrush or floss; professional instruments are needed. Removing the calculus helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Another spot that can be difficult or impossible to clean is the grooves in your molars. If you have particularly deep grooves, then even professional cleaning instruments can’t adequately clean them. That leaves your molars vulnerable to decay, as bacteria become trapped in the grooves. Children are particularly vulnerable to this type of decay through their early teenage years.
To protect your molars, your dentist in Kirkland can apply sealants to them. Sealants are a clear material that’s applied as a thick liquid, but hardens into a solid. After the molars are thoroughly cleaned, the sealants are applied to fill in the grooves. This helps to prevent severe tooth decay. Sealants last for up to ten years, but need to be reapplied periodically to ensure that they continue to protect the teeth. Dentists particularly recommend sealants for the molars of children as soon as possible as they come in. However, sealants are also beneficial for adults.
Fluoride is a mineral that hardens the enamel of teeth, making it more resistant to decay. Getting enough fluoride is important for preventing cavities and more severe tooth decay. Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance, but children typically do not get enough in their food and water. Most toothpaste contains fluoride, and it’s also added to drinking water in most communities. However, applying extra fluoride to children’s teeth while they’re developing may help them to resist decay. Your dentist in Kirkland will apply a fluoride gel to your child’s teeth; this is left on for a few minutes, and then the child spits it out. In some cases, dentists recommend fluoride treatment for adults as well.
Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth, including the tissues of the tongue, cheeks, or gums. The risk of oral cancer is increased by tobacco use (particularly chewing tobacco, or “snuff”), alcohol use, infection with certain viruses, and many other factors. Oral cancer is commonly found in the later stages, when cure is much more difficult. Your dentist in Kirkland will perform an oral cancer screening exam each time you come for a checkup. Anything that looks suspicious can be biopsied to make sure it’s not cancer. Catching oral cancer early may make it more likely that treatment will be able to cure it. When your exam doesn’t find anything worrisome, knowing that your dentist has checked for cancer will provide you with peace of mind.
To keep your teeth healthy, it’s important to have regular appointments with a dentist you trust. If you’re searching for a dentist in Kirkland, Dr. Arkadi Razoumovich of Seattle’s Best Smiles provides high-quality dental care in the area. Those who feel anxious when they visit the dentist, even for a simple checkup, will be relieved to find out that he offers sedation dentistry in Kirkland, which helps nervous patients feel calmer and more relaxed at their dental appointments. To book your appointment with Dr. Razoumovich, your dentist in Kirkland, contact our office.
Dr. Arkadi Razoumovitch, DDS provides cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry in a comfortable, professional environment. Dr. Razoumovich received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The University of Washington. He has had extensive post-graduate training, including residency training at the University of California Los Angeles, and is a member of numerous professional organizations including The American Dental Association and The Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Razoumovich makes dental treatment relaxed and comfortable for patients while enhancing their oral health and beautifying their smiles
