by US Army Africa

Everyone should have their teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, though your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend more frequent visits.Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential to prevent dental problems and maintain the health of your teeth and gums.  At these visits, your teeth are cleaned and checked for cavities.  Additionally, there are many other things that are checked and monitored to help detect, prevent, and maintain your dental health.

These include:

– Medical history review: Knowing the status of any current medical conditions, new medications, and illnesses, gives us insight to your over all health and also your dental health.

– Examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss.X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.

– Oral cancer screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any sings of oral cancer.

– Gum disease evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.

– Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.

– Examination of existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.

– Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for sometime and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.

–  Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!

– Teeth polishing: Removes stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during toothbrushing and scaling.

– Oral hygiene recommendations: Review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed (electric dental toothbrushes, special cleaning aids, fluorides, rinses, etc.).

– Review dietary habits: Your eating habits play a very important role in your dental health.

As you can see, a good dental exam and cleaning involves quite a lot more than just checking for cavities and polishing your teeth. We are committed to providing you with the best possible care, and to do so will require regular check-ups and cleanings.

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Question by Chris B: What is the military looking for during there dental exams?
The USMC more specifically, the reason I ask is because my jaw is crooked and makes a popping noise sometimes when I move it, and my bottom teeth are all crooked. Apparently none this can be fixed until I am fully grown (orthodontist says 21 at the latest) but I hope to be in the military by then.

Best answer:

Answer by Voltron
They usually give you a form that must be filled out by a dentist. what they are looking for is anything that my hinder your performance like cavities left untreated or existing abscess etc, because if your deplay dental treatment may not be available so they want you to be in stable condition before going. they dont really care about crooked teeth, only if there are existing problems.

SEMPER FI!

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by US Army Africa

There are many compelling reasons to visit a dentist regularly. Dental screenings check for a wide variety of problems, many of which are important to a patient’s overall health as well as their teeth and gums. In addition to a check for general oral health, the dentist screens for oral cancer, cavities, and early signs of gum disease. Regular visits assist the family dentist in getting to know patients’ habits and issues, increasing the ability to catch problems before they become health emergencies.

Routine dental screenings go further than patients may realize. A part of the procedure is a check for oral cancer. A regularly scheduled visit to the dentist provides the best screening for this cancer, which is curable unless it is discovered in the very late stages. Tobacco users are especially at risk; however, people with no known risk factors for oral cancer can still contract this disease. Recent studies have also linked the occurrence of oral cancer to the human papilloma virus, or HPV. Frequent dental check-ups are the best line of defense to fight oral cancer.

Regular dental check-ups provide an opportunity for the dentist to catch cavities before they develop into bigger problems. The dentist can spot tooth decay early on, and design a treatment plan that will keep the patient’s teeth healthy. Early intervention to stop minor tooth decay can prevent costly dental procedures and even loss of teeth down the road.

Dentists also check for the presence of gum disease during regular screenings. Gum disease, or gingivitis as it is called in the early stages, can be prevented through good dental hygiene and professional cleanings. In fact, some forms of decay, like tartar buildup, can only be eliminated by a dental cleaning. Gingivitis forms after plaque and other build up is allowed to remain (and decay) on the surface of the teeth and gums. While tobacco use and genetics contribute to the formation of gingivitis as well, regular dental treatment can help prevent the condition from developing into a bigger issue.

In advanced stages, gum disease becomes periodontal disease, which is truly a threat to overall health. This serious condition can lead to a patient’s bones breaking down, as well as tooth loss. Even more disturbing, bacteria that are present in a mouth full of infected gums can contribute to dire health issues such as heart disease and stroke.

Some researchers also suggest that gum disease raises the risk of developing diabetes. It is thought that infected gums can raise blood sugar levels, a contributing factor to this serious disease.

Surprisingly, current statistics show that the majority of Americans have gum disease in some form or another. This makes it all the more important to incorporate regular dental checkups in your plan to maintain overall good health.

Current recommendations suggest that adults and children should see their dentists at least every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. A regular visit with the family dentist is an essential weapon in the fight against very preventable conditions like tooth loss, gum disease, and oral cancer.

How to prepare your puppy dog for its first dental exam in thisfree online video series. Expert: Elise McMahon Bio: Elise McMahon has a Ph.D. in animal behavior and has been working with both domestic and wild dogs since the early 1990s. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

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Question by TallToothpick: What is a good, cheap kind of soap that I can practice carving on? [Like the soap used in dental exams?]?
I want to practice carving for dentistry, and I don’t know what kind of soap is closest to the soap they use for the dental exams. What kind of soap do you recommend? Please keep in mind, i’m looking for cheap soap; as i’ll be buying a fair amount for practice.

Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by GO NOLES
Ivory soap is the best.When I was in The Cub Scouts we used to carve it.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!