A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal when treating patients. Our New York office proudly offers thorough dental exams and professional cleanings to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Scheduling routine check-ups every six months can help prevent decay, periodontal (gum) disease, infection, and even tooth loss.
At Healthy Chelsea Dentistry, professional dental cleanings include a dental exam and the following:
Your dentist will perform a comprehensive exam during your initial visit. At regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will include the following services:
Digital radiography, also known as a digital x-ray, is the latest technology offered at our New York office to evaluate your teeth. They’re an essential preventative and diagnostic tool that helps us detect issues that aren’t visible during a regular dental exam.
This technique uses an electronic sensor, instead of an x-ray film, to capture and store digital images of the entire mouth. These can be instantly viewed and enlarged, allowing our dentists to detect problems easier, faster, and with less radiation exposure than traditional x-rays.
Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save time, money, and unnecessary discomfort, as well as your teeth!
Without x-rays, problem areas may go undetected. Dental x-rays may reveal:
Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving the goal of a healthy smile. To help make it easier, Drs. Boyd and Lenhoff have put together helpful tips for effective at-home oral hygiene care.
It’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially before going to bed at night. We recommend using a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush, and non-abrasive toothpaste to prevent damaging your teeth.
Flossing regularly is the best, most effective way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, but also stops plaque from building up and prevents damage to your gums, teeth, and bone.
We’re all exposed to natural radiation in our environment. Digital x-rays produce a significantly lower level of radiation compared to traditional dental x-rays. Not only are digital x-rays better for the health and safety of the patient, but they’re also faster and more comfortable, which reduces your time in the dental office.
In addition, since the digital image is captured electronically, there’s no need to develop the x-rays, thus eliminating the disposal of harmful waste and chemicals into the environment.
Even though digital x-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered very safe, dentists still take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation. These precautions include only taking x-rays that are necessary and using lead apron shields to protect the body.
The need for dental x-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health. Your dentist and hygienist will recommend necessary x-rays based upon a review of your medical and dental history, your age, and your risk of disease.
A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients. A full series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.