However, the dental hygienist cannot diagnose or treat any dental problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease. Only a dentist can diagnose dental problems. The dentist performs fillings, extractions, and other treatment procedures. Tooth decay appears as small blackheads or retracted areas anywhere on the tooth enamel, even below the gum line.
Your dental hygienist will examine your teeth and take x-rays to identify any sources of possible tooth decay. If there are signs of tooth decay, you may need to fill a cavity or undergo more serious procedures to prevent bacteria from progressing to the center of the tooth. Sometimes, the dentist can detect that you have a cavity just by looking at your mouth through an oral exam. They'll look for things like discoloration, destruction of enamel, or holes in the teeth.
They can also use a dental probe or scanner to check cracks in the teeth for cavities and for soft spots or tenderness. Turner will take a picture of your tooth and be able to show you exactly what's happening. However, dental exams don't always reveal the level of severity of tooth decay. While pain is usually felt when an abscess forms, your dental hygienist can find irritated tissue when cleaning your teeth before you notice significant pain or irritation.
You should also attend regular dental appointments, which naturally involves thorough cleaning by a dental hygienist. Even though you brush and floss your teeth every day, professional cleaning performed by a dental hygienist enters spaces that cannot be easily accessed with toothbrushes and dental floss. Let's talk about what regular dental cleaning entails, what a hygienist does, and where you can go for first-class oral care here in the Twin Cities.
Dental hygienists
have special tools that can remove plaque buildup much more thoroughly than brushing and flossing.Fine enamel cracks or broken teeth are often detected first in the visual examination performed by the dental hygienist during cleaning. During dental cleanings in Little Rock, your dental hygienist will perform a thorough examination of your mouth to ensure that you don't have any dental hygiene issues that require the attention of your Little Rock dentist. During teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist will evaluate the gum tissue and check for telltale swelling, discoloration, or tissue recession and will also ask if you have had any gum pain. If you have had any type of injury or accident, tell your dental hygienist so that they can examine your teeth thoroughly.
The hygienist will also take x-rays of your teeth when the x-rays need to be taken (depending on your approval and acceptance). Dental hygienists have the tools and training to thoroughly clean the teeth and collect information through technologies so that the dentist can diagnose the condition. The hygienist will report these problems when the dentist enters the exam room for a quick checkup. The dental hygienist will also take note of any areas of the teeth that appear chipped, any cavities or soft areas in the teeth, any areas that have caused pain when touched, and any tenderness or redness of the gums.
Your dental hygienist will alert your dentist to this problem right away to prevent the infection from spreading into the bloodstream and causing serious complications.