10 Things You Didn’t know Your Dentist Does

January 27th, 2021

During each visit to Galliano Family Dentistry, we strive to provide the greatest quality care possible to you. Your dental health is linked to your overall health and wellness. It is important that you schedule checkups with your dental care provider every six months. These checkups are extremely important to not only have a regular professional cleaning but to also check your teeth and mouth for any other possible issues. There are many things that your dentist and hygienists are checking for that you may not even know!

restorative dental services at Galliano family Dentistry

What do your dentists do at a routine checkup?

  1. We do a cancer screen:
    At each checkup, your dentist makes sure to screen for cancer. Our dentists inspect your mouth for anything abnormal that may look like or lead to any type of oral cancer. This is why it is especially important to keep up with your checkups every six months.
  2. We check your gums:
    Each visit, Dentists also check and examine your gums closely. Gum health is extremely important to the overall health of your mouth, so our Dentists make sure your gums are healthy. They check for any signs of swollen gums or inflammation that could be indication of gum disease.
  3. We observe each tooth individually:
    You may have just thought that your dentist cleaned and examined your mouth overall, but they actually do closely look at each and every individual tooth. When doing so, our team at Galliano Dentistry is looking for anything abnormal, and looks at the health of each and every tooth. During a dental checkup, each tooth is observed for cavities, or any other abnormalities.
  4. We examine your bite:
    During a regular dental checkup, your dentist will examine your bite to see if any teeth have moved recently. Dentists will recommend wearing your retainer regularly if applicable. If your bite alignment is off, or there is something you’d like to fix about your bite, your dentist may recommend an orthodontist for braces.
  5. We check your tonsils and glands:
    Another thing that your dentist looks at during your checkup is your tonsils and your salivary glands. While looking at your teeth, your dentist also checks to make sure your tonsils look healthy and normal. Additionally, they make sure your glands are properly functioning and creating enough saliva.
  6. We check your overall dental hygiene:
    During your general dental checkup, the hygienist or your dentist will be checking your overall dental hygiene. They can do this easily by smelling your breath and seeing how your teeth react to the cleaning process.
  7. We examine your tongue:
    Did you know that your tongue consists 2,000 – 4,000 taste buds? Your dentist will check your tongue for anything out of the ordinary due to it being such an essential part of the mouth.
  8. We teach you proper care:
    At each visit, whether you realize it or not, our dentists at Galliano Dentistry show you the proper way to brush, floss, and take care of your teeth. As mentioned, your dental health heavily relates to your overall health and wellness, so proper dental care is essential! At each visit we give you a toothbrush to encourage healthy brushing habits. You should regularly switch out your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months!
  9. We do an extensive cleaning:
    As you might assume, during each checkup with the dentist, we provide a professional teeth cleaning. After inspecting every inch of your mouth, we give an extensive cleaning that leaves your mouth feeling refreshed and healthy. During your general checkup, we provide X-Ray services each year to further look at your dental health.
  10. We provide a dental framework:
    Lastly, although you may not realize we are doing so, during each checkup we are further providing you with a dental framework that will leave your teeth and mouth functioning properly for years to come. Our dentists strive to provide you the best service possible. We go above and beyond for any and all of your dental needs. We set up this dental framework for you early on and would like to request to see you every 6-months to make sure your dental needs are met and examined regularly!

Visit Galliano Family Dentistry today!

We hope this gives you a better idea of what a dentist does during a routine dental checkup! Visit us at Galliano Dentistry so that we are able to provide you with top notch dental care! Please give us a call to make your next appointment or call for a consultation at 225-296-0212. We look forward to seeing you soon!