A dental exam, often combined with a professional cleaning, is a routine but incredibly important visit to our dental office. It’s designed to proactively monitor your oral health, identify any developing issues, and provide necessary preventative treatments. Think of it as your smile’s wellness check!
A typical dental exam and checkup at Smiles By Eddie in Woodland Hills includes:
- Comprehensive Oral Examination: I will meticulously examine your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, palate, and other soft tissues for any signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or other potential issues.
- Oral Cancer Screening: This is a vital part of every exam. I will check your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, and gums for any lumps, red or white patches, or other abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. Early detection is crucial.
- Gum Health Assessment (Periodontal Charting): We will gently measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums to assess your gum health and detect any signs of gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease).
- Bite and Jaw Joint (TMJ) Evaluation: I’ll check your bite for any alignment issues and assess your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) for signs of dysfunction, clicking, popping, or pain.
- Diagnostic X-rays (as needed): Digital X-rays allow us to see what’s happening beneath the surface – between teeth, under existing fillings, and within the jawbone – to detect cavities, bone loss, or other problems not visible during a visual exam. We use low-radiation digital X-rays for your safety.
- Professional Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis): Our skilled dental hygienists will meticulously remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) from your teeth, both above and slightly below the gum line. This removes buildup that regular brushing and flossing can’t fully address.
- Fluoride Treatment (Optional/Recommended): Especially for children and adults prone to cavities, a fluoride treatment can strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to decay.
- Oral Hygiene Instruction: We’ll review your brushing and flossing techniques and provide personalized tips and recommendations for optimizing your home oral care routine.
At Smiles By Eddie, I truly believe that the cornerstone of a beautiful, healthy smile and excellent oral health is consistent preventative care. Regular dental exams and checkups are far more than just a quick look at your teeth; they are comprehensive assessments that allow us to catch potential issues early, maintain your oral hygiene, and ensure your smile remains vibrant for years to come. My team and I are dedicated to providing thorough, gentle, and personalized checkups right here in Woodland Hills, helping patients of all ages prevent problems before they start and enjoy optimal oral well-being.
Regular checkups are not just about addressing problems; they’re about preventing them. By visiting us consistently at our Woodland Hills dental office, you’re investing in your long-term oral and overall health.
Benefits of routine dental exams and checkups include:
- Early Detection of Cavities: We can spot small cavities before they become large, painful problems requiring more extensive treatment like fillings or crowns.
- Prevention and Management of Gum Disease: Regular cleanings remove tartar that causes gum disease. Early detection of gingivitis allows for simple interventions, preventing progression to more serious periodontitis.
- Oral Cancer Detection: Early detection of oral cancer significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.
- Identification of Other Oral Health Issues: We can detect issues like teeth grinding (bruxism), TMJ disorders, wisdom tooth problems, or even nutritional deficiencies that show oral signs.
- Fresher Breath & Brighter Smile: Professional cleanings remove stains and odor-causing bacteria, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and your smile looking its best.
- Cost Savings: Addressing small problems early is always less costly and less invasive than treating advanced dental issues.
- Personalized Oral Hygiene Advice: We can tailor recommendations for toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and flossing techniques to your specific needs.
- Overall Health Connection: Your oral health is a window to your overall health. Signs of systemic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even some autoimmune conditions can manifest in your mouth.
DR. EDMOND
AHDOOT
Choosing the right dental home for your routine care is essential for maintaining lifelong oral health. Here’s why patients in Woodland Hills, CA, and the surrounding San Fernando Valley, trust Smiles By Eddie for their dental exams and checkups:
- Comprehensive & Meticulous Care: I believe in thoroughness. My exams are detailed, ensuring no potential issue goes unnoticed, from the smallest cavity to early signs of oral cancer.
- Experienced & Gentle Team: Our highly skilled dental hygienists are known for their gentle yet incredibly effective cleaning techniques, ensuring your comfort. My entire team is dedicated to providing a positive and comfortable experience for every patient.
- Advanced Diagnostic Technology: We utilize modern digital X-rays and intraoral cameras to provide clear images and aid in early, precise diagnosis, all while minimizing radiation exposure.
- Patient Education & Empowerment: I take the time to explain my findings clearly, answer all your questions, and empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your oral health at home.
- Proactive & Preventative Approach: Our focus is on prevention. By catching issues early, we can often avoid more extensive, costly, and invasive treatments down the line.
- Friendly & Welcoming Environment: We strive to create a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, making your routine dental visits something you look forward to, not dread.
- Convenient Local Access: Located right here in Woodland Hills, our office offers a comfortable and accessible environment for all your preventative dental care needs. We’re your trusted source for dental checkups in Woodland Hills.
Receiving a bone graft is a surgical procedure performed with meticulous care in our Woodland Hills dental office. While the specific steps can vary depending on the type and location of the graft, here’s a general overview of what you can expect:
- Initial Consultation & Planning: Your journey begins with a thorough examination, including advanced imaging (such as a 3D CBCT scan), to accurately assess the extent of bone loss and plan the exact grafting procedure. We’ll discuss the best graft material and technique for your needs.
- Anesthesia: On the day of your procedure, I will administer local anesthesia to ensure the surgical site is completely numb. For patients who feel anxious, we offer various sedation options to ensure your comfort and relaxation throughout the procedure.
- Incision: A small incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the underlying jawbone.
- Graft Placement: The chosen bone graft material (and potentially a membrane to protect the graft and guide bone growth) is carefully placed into the area where bone regeneration is needed.
- Suturing: The gum tissue is then gently re-positioned and secured with sutures to cover the grafted site and promote healing.
- Post-Operative Instructions: Before you leave, my team will provide detailed verbal and written post-operative care instructions. This will cover how to manage discomfort, what to eat, how to keep the area clean, and any necessary medications (e.g., antibiotics, pain relievers).
- Healing Period: Bone grafts require a significant healing period for the new bone to integrate and mature. This typically ranges from 3 to 9 months, or sometimes longer, depending on the graft type and the amount of bone needed. During this time, the graft material is gradually replaced by your own natural bone.
- Follow-Up & Assessment: We’ll schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress. Once sufficient bone regeneration has occurred, we will proceed with the next phase of your treatment, such as dental implant placement.
FAQ
For most healthy adults and children, it’s recommended to have a dental exam and professional cleaning every six months. For individuals with a history of gum disease, frequent cavities, or other specific conditions, I may recommend more frequent visits (e.g., every 3-4 months).
Dental X-rays are painless. We use modern digital X-rays, which expose you to very minimal radiation, significantly less than traditional film X-rays. We only take X-rays when necessary to accurately diagnose and monitor your oral health.
Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed daily by brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into tartar (calculus), which can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.
A routine dental cleaning is generally comfortable. You might feel some pressure or scraping, but it shouldn’t be painful. If you have sensitive teeth or gum inflammation, we can use a topical numbing gel to enhance your comfort.
Oral cancer, if detected early, has a very high cure rate. My screening is a quick, non-invasive check of your mouth, throat, and neck for any suspicious lesions or changes, even if you don’t notice them yourself.
No. While excellent home care (brushing twice daily, flossing daily) is crucial, it cannot remove hardened tartar. Only a professional dental cleaning can remove tartar and access areas that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach.
Your teeth will feel incredibly smooth and clean! You might experience minor gum sensitivity for a short time, especially if there was significant tartar buildup, but this usually subsides quickly.
If a cavity is detected, I will explain its size and location, discuss treatment options (usually a dental filling), and schedule a separate appointment to address it promptly before it worsens.
Most dental insurance plans fully cover or heavily subsidize preventive care like routine dental exams and cleanings (typically two per year), as they recognize the importance of these visits in preventing more costly problems.
A routine dental exam and cleaning usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of tartar buildup and individual needs.