Cleaning/Radiographs
Cleaning
A dental cleaning or prophylaxis is a procedure performed to thoroughly clean the teeth. Prophylaxis is an important treatment used to prevent periodontal diseases and gingivitis.
Periodontal diseases are usually caused by infections and inflammation of the gums and bones that surround/support the teeth. Periodontal disease in its early stages is called gingivitis and can be identified when gums become swollen, red, and potentially bleed. If untreated, periodontitis will occur causing the gums to pull away from the tooth, potentially losing bone and teeth.
Warning signs
- bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away
- red or swollen gums
- tender or bleeding gums
- painful chewing
- loose teeth
- sensitive teeth
- gums that have pulled away from the teeth
Radiographs (x-ray)
Dental x-rays are internal images of your teeth and jaws. Dentists use x-rays to observe the health of your jawbone, nerves, sinuses and teeth roots. The two main types of x-rays are intraoral and extraoral.
Intraoral x-rays include bitewings, periapical, and occlusal x-rays. Bitewings show the upper and lower teeth in one area of your mouth. It helps identify any decay between your teeth or any changes that occur just below the gum line. Periapicals show the entire tooth, from the grown to the root tip. This helps detect decay, gum disease, bone loss and any other abnormalities. Occlusals show any issues in the floor or roof of the mouth. This helps diagnose fractured or impacted teeth or evaluate the roots of the front teeth.
Extraoral x-rays include panoramic, cephalometric, and a cone beam CT scan. At Reseda Smile Dental, we use panoramics to show all of the structures in the mouth on a single image. This includes the upper and lower teeth, jaw points, nerves, sinuses and supporting bone. It used to get an overview of any existing oral health issues.
