General Dentistry Staten Island, NY

Dental exams are a must to ensure optimum oral health. A dental exam involves an overall examination of a person's teeth and gums. It would help determine the type of treatment that a person must undergo to restore good oral health.

During a dental exam, the dentist will clean the patient's teeth and look for any signs of cavities or infection in the gums. We will also examine the face, neck, and mouth for any visible abnormalities. Every surface of every tooth is carefully examined to look for tartar deposits and cavities. If there are any existing fillings or old fillings then it could have worn out over time, So, it will be removed and replaced. In some instances, an x-ray would be necessary for the dentist to get a better view of the root of the teeth.

Dental x-rays are used to examine internal dental structures, bone loss, internal cavities, benign masses, etc. below the gum line. They give a picture of the entire tooth, i.e., from the crown to the tip of the root. There are different types of dental x-rays. They are:

Bitewing X-ray: Used to check decay and how well the upper and lower teeth line up. It is mostly used to get a view of the back teeth.

Periapical X-ray: Used to get the full view of a single tooth. It helps to determine any cysts or tumors below the gum line.

Panoramic X-ray: Used to get a panoramic view of all the teeth in one x-ray. It helps determine minor problems such as bone loss, cavities, fractures, or cracks in the teeth.

Occlusal x-ray: Used to get an x-ray of the roof or floor of the mouth. It helps to find any hidden teeth, unbroken teeth, etc.

Prophylaxis is the process of thoroughly cleaning the teeth. It is very important as it helps to prevent infection and gets rid of the microbes that cause oral infections. Prophylaxis helps maintain good oral health, and here are some of its benefits:

Removal of plaque and tartar: Plaque and tartar are the deposits of microbes accumulated on the surface of teeth over a period of time. Plaque leaves the teeth looking yellowish, whereas tartar is visible as dark patches on the teeth. They can be removed by prophylaxis, which restores a beautiful white smile.

Fresh breath: The removal of microbes from between the teeth gets rid of foul breath. It also gets rid of the irritation due to rotting food particles that are stuck between the teeth.

Determining any oral infections at an early stage: Getting prophylaxis done would help determine any infections in the teeth, gums, soft tissues, etc. We will treat them using appropriate medication.

In addition to this, we offer several restoratives and cosmetic dental treatment procedures.