Regular Dental Checkups in Cincinnati OH

What Happens at Your Dental Checkup?

When you come in, our friendly staff will make sure everything is ready to go. Next, we will take images of your teeth and gums to see if there are any infections or decay that are under the surface. We will also perform a visual inspection of your gums and teeth. We will be looking for signs of infection, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. If we identify any of these issues, we will discuss treatment options with you and may even be able to treat minor cavities that day. We will also clean your teeth before you go to ensure that you do not have any lingering plaque or bacteria in your mouth.

If you have not yet taken an oral cancer screening, we encourage you to schedule one today. Most people never have an oral cancer screening, and this is why the cancer is not detected at an early stage. Based on your risk factors and what we see, we will let you know how frequently you need an examination.

Our Treatment Philosophy

We now realize that some of the subtle signs of gum disease, which we were content to watch in the past, may be more significant than originally thought. New research shows a more aggressive approach to the treatment of periodontal (gum) disease is more effective and beneficial to the patient.

Gum disease is a low-grade chronic bacterial infection also called periodontal disease or pyorrhea. While everyone has bacteria in their mouths, not everyone develops gum disease. Some identifiable risk factors can make it more likely for the bacteria in your mouth to result in destructive gum disease. We now know that due to these risk factors some patients can clean their teeth and visit the dentist religiously yet still have gum problems.

Over time, food and bacteria tend to collect between the teeth and gum. If this debris is not adequately removed, the bacteria migrate deeper under the gumline. In a susceptible patient, a space or “pocket” forms between the tooth and gum. Once these pockets of bacteria form below the gumline, you cannot reach them even with good toothbrushing and flossing.

The bacteria multiply and cause the gum cells to release a variety of substances that aggravate and inflame the gum tissues. The gum tissue and then the supporting bone are slowly destroyed. If enough bone tissue is destroyed, the teeth loosen and are eventually lost.

Gum disease rarely causes pain or any symptoms since the infection and pus readily drains through the gum. Often you cannot tell you even have gum disease until the gum is examined and checked for pockets. It’s like having termites in your house: above ground the house appears fine, but the foundation is slowly being destroyed without your knowledge. Just because your gums don’t hurt doesn’t mean all is well. Unlike looking for termites, we do not need to wait until damage has been done to tell if you have gum disease. We can detect gum disease early and prevent or repair its damage. You can keep watch also. Bleeding is a strong indicator of gum inflammation. Healthy gums do not bleed at all when brushed or flossed. If you have any bleeding when you clean your teeth, your gums are inflamed.

We now know this ongoing bacterial infection in your mouth can have far reaching effects elsewhere in your body. When the gums are chronically inflamed, the bacteria can gain entrance into your bloodstream and spread to other parts of your body. Gum disease increases your risk for heart disease. Gum disease has been linked to pulmonary infections and gastric ulcer re-infection. Gum disease in diabetics makes control of blood sugar more difficult. Gum disease during pregnancy increases the risk for a pre-term, low birth weight baby. Gum disease reduces your body’s ability to fight other underlying conditions.

The American Academy of Periodontology’s website has patient-oriented information concerning the increased risk for other health problems when gum disease is allowed to persist.

The progression of gum disease can be halted if the bacteria and debris are removed from these pockets. Traditionally, gum treatment consisted of cutting the diseased gum away with the hope that what would remain would heal and be healthy. Fortunately, a variety of new techniques have allowed us to successfully treat chronic gum infections much more conservatively. Removing large amounts of diseased gum and then “packing” the gums is a thing of the past.

We are innovative in our treatment protocols. Our foundational approach is to use aggressive, but non-surgical or minimally invasive procedures to help you achieve plus maintain a preferred level of oral health.

Fred H. Peck, DDS