Depending on your situation, you might think that dentist appointments aren’t a big deal. Don’t they amount to regular teeth cleanings and the occasional cavity treatment? However, you’d be surprised at the importance of routine dental checkups. Your six-month dentist visits involve quite a bit and serve various purposes. To learn more, here’s a summary of four things dental checkups do that you might not have expected.
They Check Your Bite & TMJ
During a checkup, a dentist will look at your bite and alignment. If they see that your teeth have moved recently, they may suggest you wear braces to correct your smile. From there, they’ll recommend you to a trained “orthodontist.”
While observing your bite, your practitioner will also see if your TMJ is okay. Also known as the temporomandibular joint, that’s the part of your body that connects the jawbone and jaw. In other words, your dentist will ensure the joint and your bite work together correctly.
They Examine Your Salivary Glands
Another thing your dentist will check is your salivary glands.
For this part of the examination, they’ll see if your mouth produces enough saliva. It’s important to check, as the liquid washes away harmful bacteria. When there isn’t enough saliva, your teeth and mouth will become more prone to cavities, infection, and bad breath.
They Assess Your Tongue & Tonsils
Even your tongue will get a thorough once-over in a dental checkup. As it turns out, the size and texture of that organ can say a lot about your dental health and physical condition.
At the same time, your dentist will look closely at your tonsils and throat for signs of infection or swelling. Like the tongue, the tonsils can also tell a lot about health concerns present in the body.
They Screen You for Oral Cancer
Perhaps surprisingly, your routine appointment will also screen you for possible signs of oral cancer. The process involves your dentist examining your lips, head, neck, and oral tissues for relevant symptoms. These signs could include mouth sores that don’t heal, a lump in the oral cavity, difficulty swallowing, and more.
Teeth-cleaning and oral hygiene tips only scratch the surface of dental checkups. Talk to your dentist during the next one to find out what else they do behind the scenes.
About the Practice
Julington Creek Family Dentistry is based in St. Johns, FL. Using the latest dental technology, their team gives patients superior dental care for all ages. To that end, provided services include preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention emergency tooth treatments. The practice will deliver great results for any dental need, whether a checkup or a dental implant. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (904)-230-2961.