Dental Cleanings & Checkups

When we say “regular dental checkup” we don’t mean once a week, or once a month. A regular dental checkup is generally only twice a year – 2 days out of 365 days.  And it’s not even days, it’s more like an hour. And what does making this time for your health accomplish?

1. Oral Cancer Detection – Cancer is a terrible disease that attacks the body in various ways. One avenue of attack is the mouth. The key to defeating cancer is early detection. If left undetected we all know what can happen. Thankfully, an early stage oral cancer diagnosis is often easily treatable. Dr. Hemphill is highly trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of oral cancer.  With regular dental check-ups the chances of detecting oral cancer in the early stages increase dramatically.
2. Plaque, Tarter, and Cavities – Even if you’re an Olympic caliber daily brusher and flosser, there are still small areas in your mouth that are missed by regular brushing and flossing. As plaque builds up it becomes more difficult to remove and over time becomes impossible to remove without professional help.
3. Gum Disease – Plaque and tartar buildup not only cause tooth decay but also erode your mouth’s supportive structures. This happens when tartar buildup causes an infection where the gum is connected to the tooth, which makes the gum pull away from the tooth. The infection is called gingivitis and as it progresses, the tissue attachment breaks down. Regular checkups give you the tools to stop gingivitis in its tracks.
4. Got Bad Habits? – There are more than a few bad habits that can negatively impact your oral health, some of which you may not even realize are causing issues. Chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating sticky or hard sweets, brushing your teeth too hard, and many more. During your check-up these bad habits will be identified and you’ll be given tools and solutions to make corrections.
5. X-Ray Feedback – A critical part of your checkup is getting an inside look at what’s going on inside your teeth and jaw. X-ray images allow us to see what is happening beneath the surfaces of your mouth and find issues that are invisible to the eye. This is especially critical in combating destructive diseases that show little to no symptoms but progress rapidly.
6. Head, Neck, and Lymph Node Checks – In addition to checking your mouth, gums, and tongue for signs of oral cancer, Dr. Hemphill will also check your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes – located just below your jawline – for any swelling, lumps, or other abnormalities. This is important because swollen lymph nodes do not necessarily hurt, but when identified properly can be a sign of certain kinds of cancer or other diseases that require immediate attention.