Why Should I Go to the Dentist in Blaine Regularly?

Your oral health influences your overall health, and so, your dentist in Blaine, Dr. Douglas Green, recommends all his patients receive six-month oral exams and hygienic cleanings. Highly skilled in a wide range of restorative and aesthetic dental treatments, Dr. Green puts preventive dentistry first–keeping smiles strong and attractive for the long haul.

Dr. Green Agrees with the ADA

The American Dental Association (ADA) is a highly-respected professional organization for dentists. It disseminates important information about oral health to consumers via the internet, print and broadcast media. This group of highly trained dentists advises patients of all ages see their dentists every six months for exams and cleanings.

Dr. Douglas Green of Imagine Smiles agrees with the ADA’s recommendations for preventive dentistry, and he sees the results right in his dental office.  Patients who come in regularly for digital X-rays, hygienic cleanings and check-ups have stronger teeth and gums and more vibrant overall health. They experience far fewer, if any, dental emergencies, such as abscessed teeth or lost crowns and fillings. Plus, while dental problems are a fact of life, issues that can arise are easier and less complex to treat when found early.

The Routine Dental Visit

First, your dental hygienist will gently scale your teeth, removing sticky plaque and hard tartar that brushing and flossing often miss. She will floss between your teeth, polish them and assess your gum health. This easy assessment involves measuring gum pockets–the spaces between gum tissue and tooth enamel. Pockets deeper than three millimeters are diagnostic for gum disease.

Then, your dentist visually inspects your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay or gingivitis. Left untreated, cavities and gum disease lead to tooth loss. Additionally, advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, causes bad breath, tooth mobility, and bone deterioration. Research links it to serious health concerns, such as diabetes, stroke, dementia, arthritis and heart disease.

As part of your examination, the dentist checks your bite, jaw joint function, condition of tooth enamel, fillings and crowns and assesses for oral cancer. Oral cancer is deadly when undetected. Caught at its earliest stages, however, it is highly curable, says the Oral Cancer Foundation. While there are risk factors for oral cancer, no one is immune to it. So, that’s why this easy and painless assessment of lips, gums, tongue and lymph nodes is so critical.

After the dental exam, Dr. Green shares his treatment plan with the patient, discussing his findings and listening to the individual’s concerns and goals. This detailed dentist-patient communication is a hallmark of preventive care with Dr. Green.

Prevention is Key

Your smile can last a lifetime. Attain that goal with semi-annual visits to Imagine Smiles. If it’s time for your routine check-up, contact the office staff today for a convenient appointment time. If you’re wondering, “is there a dentist near me who knows how best to care for my oral health?”, wonder no more. Dr. Green has the well-credentialed expertise and patient-centeredness to keep you smiling for years.