Dental Care Procedures at a Dental Clinic: What to Expect
Learn how dental care procedures work at a dental clinic, from checkups and X-rays to gum exams, plus the home care routine dentists recommend.
Dental care matters, and you can get it at several kinds of health facilities in Indonesia, including community health centers (puskesmas), hospitals and dental clinics. Most people prefer a dental clinic for taking care of their teeth. Costs are affordable, and the procedures are performed by professional dentists. Here is a description of how a dentist treats patients at a dental clinic.
Dental Care Procedures at a Dental Clinic
Routine dental checkups at a clinic are important. The recommended frequency is once every 6 months. During your checkup, the dentist examines the overall condition of your teeth and looks for problems such as cavities, broken or cracked teeth, damaged fillings, plaque and tartar.
If the exam shows plaque and tartar, the dentist will treat them right away. Plaque and tartar are sources of infection in the mouth, so they need to be removed if the buildup is severe. The dentist will also assess how high your risk of cavities is.
Next, the dentist checks the position of your wisdom teeth, which may be growing in at an angle, and whether your teeth are crowded or misaligned. If the dentist still needs more information after the exam, the next step offered is a dental X-ray. To get the best results, you should agree to the dentist's plan.
Besides your teeth, the dentist also examines the tissues that support dental health, including the tongue, the roof of the mouth and the jaw joints. If a problem turns up in these supporting tissues, all of them will be examined. Common problems include bleeding, swollen or receding gums and loose teeth. Once diagnosed, these problems are treated quickly and appropriately.
The dentist will also check how well you take care of your dental health. At this stage, the dentist usually teaches you the proper way to brush your teeth. The dentist will also tell you about any other treatments you need to keep your teeth healthy.
During your visit, the dentist will also ask you about several things, such as your diet and the types of food you eat, whether you smoke, and parafunctional habits. Parafunction refers to habits that can harm your teeth, such as biting pencils or fingernails, and clenching or grinding your jaw and teeth.
Keeping your teeth healthy is something you must do. Preventing problems is better than treating them, and the reason is simple: dental treatment in Indonesia is not cheap. Once you understand how important it is to maintain your dental health, you automatically save money.
Home Dental Care Recommended by Dentists
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. The ideal times are in the morning and at night before bed. Brush for about 2 minutes and make sure every surface of your teeth is cleaned thoroughly.
- If you are at high risk of cavities, you can use a fluoride mouth rinse. If you are at high risk of gum disease, use an antimicrobial mouthwash as your dentist advises.
- Rinse with mouthwash to keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Choose an alcohol-free mouthwash. You also should not use mouthwash for 2 weeks in a row.
The best option for dental care is to visit a dental clinic. In general, dentists who practice at clinics are qualified because they meet set standards. As a result, the dental care procedures performed there are more likely to be optimal, and your teeth stay in good health.
Read also: Dental Clinic vs. Hospital: Which Is Better?
