Dental Check Ups

Dental Checkups in Flower Mound

Keeping Your Smile White, Bright & Healthy

Regular dental checkups promote good, preventative dental care and help to protect your oral health and general wellbeing. Regular dental exams provide Titensor Dental the opportunity to offer tips on caring for your teeth and to detect any problems. Early detection of problems – when they are most treatable – allows for early management and treatment.

When to Have a Dental Checkup

The American Dental Hygienists' Association recommends that, for good preventative dental care, adults want to schedule dental exams every six months or as determined by Titensor Dental based on your individual dental situation. Even if you wear dentures or no longer have your natural teeth, it is important to schedule regular dental exams to maintain good oral health.

Dental Checkups with Titensor Dental

As an important part of preventive dental care, you want to schedule regular dental checkups. The first step of a dental checkup requires the dentist to do an exam and then one of his hygienists to clean your teeth and identify gum inflammation or bone loss and check for oral cancer with the Velscope. During your dental checkup, they also evaluate your risk of developing tooth decay and other oral health problems. You might be surprised to discover they examine your face, neck, and mouth to determine any abnormalities. Sometimes, a dental exam includes dental X-rays or other diagnostic procedures.

You may find Titensor Dental inquires about your diet and oral hygiene habits and may demonstrate for you proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Other topics for possible discussion during a dental checkup in Flower Mound include:

  • Dentures
  • Tooth loss
  • Medications
  • Tobacco products
  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Crowns, fixed bridges, or dental implants
  • Tooth whitening options

How to Prepare For Your Dental Checkup

When you plan to schedule your first dental exam or you want a new dentist, consider making an appointment to visit our office and talk to our friendly staff at Titensor Dental. We recommend you take the opportunity to interview us to be your new dental care family. As a part of the interview process, you want to determine if we participate in your health plan. Make sure you understand our fees and payment options, and ask us any billing questions or discuss concerns you might have. We always want to listen to you and help you achieve your dental goals!

Titensor Dental strives to make you as comfortable as possible during your dental checkup. If you are feeling anxious about having a dental exam, share your concerns with Dr. Titensor or your hygienist. A simple adjustment to your treatment may help you feel more comfortable. Titensor Dental strives for compassionate, comprehensive care. Titensor Dental's team, with advanced instruction and education on sedation dentistry, know how best to make your visit with us a comfortable and anxiety-free experience.

What You Can Expect During a Dental Checkup

During a dental checkup in Flower Mound, Titensor Dental works from the following checklist with a goal of determining your overall oral health.

To make a determination, Titensor Dental:

  • Checks your bite and jaw for problems
  • Evaluates your overall health and oral hygiene
  • Demonstrates proper cleaning techniques for your teeth or dentures
  • Takes oral X-rays or, if necessary, performs other diagnostic procedures
  • Evaluates your risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease
  • Assesses how much fluoride you are getting through your diet and use of oral hygiene products
  • Evaluates your need for tooth restoration using fillings or crowns, or tooth replacement using dentures or dental implants, if needed

During a dental exam, Dr. Titensor or his hygienist may want to discuss any health issues you have or medications you are taking and discuss how they might affect your oral health and on-going dental care. For example, if you have diabetes, you are at increased risk for gum disease. If you take certain medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, and high blood pressure drugs, you might experience dry mouth, which creates a higher risk for tooth decay. If you suffer from arthritis, the Flower Mound family dentistry team can show you ways to make brushing easier. One way is to insert the handle of your toothbrush into a rubber ball for easier use, or the staff may recommend using an electric toothbrush when your mobility is limited.

If you are a denture wearer, our dentists examine how well your dentures fit and make any necessary adjustments. During your dental checkup in Flower Mound, our team can counsel you on the oral health risks associated with smoking, dietary choices, chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, oral piercings, and not wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.

Oral Digital X-Rays

By taking oral digital x-rays, Titensor Dental sees detailed images of specific sections of your mouth. Once the technician takes the x-rays, new technology allows the x-ray images to be sent to a computer and viewed on a screen. Digital x-rays allow for the safety of the patient and give better details, allowing the dentist or hygienist to provide a more accurate diagnosis. Your doctor or hygienist displays your x-rays on a monitor in your room for you to see. Together, you can determine a plan for how to proceed with additional treatments if any are needed.

Types of oral x-rays include:

  • Bitewing - allows the dentist to see the crowns of the upper and lower teeth. During a bitewing x-ray, you bite down on the x-ray film holder while the x-ray images are taken.
  • Periapical - allows the dentist to see the tip of the root of a tooth.
  • Occlusal - allows the dentist to see the alignment of the upper teeth and corresponding lower teeth when the jaw is closed.
  • Panoramic - allows the dentist to see a comprehensive view of the entire mouth.

X-rays are not typically required at every dental checkup.

Dental Impression

During your dental checkup, Titensor Dental may recommend making a dental impression of one or both jaws to produce a model of your teeth and oral tissue. With the impression, the dentist or hygienist evaluates your bite. The dental impression is also used to make mouth guards or bleaching trays. To make the impression, Dr. Titensor or his hygienist fills a horseshoe-shaped tray with a soft, putty-like material and places them over your upper or lower teeth. In a few minutes, the trays are removed and used to create a dental cast of your mouth. You may also be asked to bite down on a soft material to record and evaluate your bite.

Dental Checkup Results

After your dental exam, either Dr. Titensor or his hygienist will discuss with you your overall oral health, including your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and any other oral health problems, and the preventive measures you can take to improve dental care and protect your oral health. We also recommend the best time to return for a follow-up visit, which typically is every six months. If you are at high risk of tooth decay or gum disease or have other oral health problems, we may recommend more frequent dental checkups. Titensor Dental makes every effort to make your dental checkup as comfortable for you as possible while providing the optimum health care.

A dental checkup gives you the opportunity to ask questions about oral health care with your dental professionals. If you suffer from dental anxiety or dental fears, Titensor Dental may suggest sedation for your dental exam.

Call Titensor Dental at (972) 388-3292 or contact us online to schedule your dental exam or for more information.

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