By Arthur Kezian

Everybody knows that good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings are essential to both oral and overall health.  Yet many people fear a trip to the dentist and delay a visit until it is too late. Dr. Kezian and his staff want you to understand what to expect from a routine dental cleaning and put your fears to rest.

Dental Cleaning Does Not Hurt

Many people fear a trip to the dentist. Will the cleaning hurt? Will there be cavities? No worries! A routine dental cleaning is rarely painful. In fact, the more frequently you go the dentist, the less plaque builds up on your teeth and, therefore, it will take less time and scraping to remove the plaque from your teeth. Routine dental cleanings should take about 30 minutes and most dentists recommend two visits per year. A careful examination is done by the dentist, either Dr. Kezian or Dr. Tashjian, and the dental cleaning starts. The cleaning is followed by a thorough polishing.

Dental Check-Ups Are More Than a Cleaning

Before your teeth are cleaned and polished, Dr. Kezian will perform a careful examination to look for early tooth decay, gum disease and any evidence of oral cancers.  Early gum disease or gingivitis can be detected by identifying soft or swollen purplish gums. They may be sensitive to touch and bleed easily. Eventually if untreated, gingivitis leads to gum recession and later tooth loss. Early stages can be reversed with plaque removal and good dental hygiene practices.

Tooth decay occurs when you eat foods such as carbohydrates. These foods are broken down into sugars. Bacteria that normally reside in your mouth digest these sugars into acids. Food debris, acids, and saliva combine to form plaque on the surfaces of your teeth.  Dental plaque can harden and become harder to scrape off the surface of your teeth. Acids within the plaque erode the hard outer surface or enamel covering the surface of your tooth. If unchecked, the erosion continues into the core or pulp of the tooth. Long term complications include pain and eventual tooth loss. Dr. Kezian and his staff have innovative technology to help identify early lesions and prevent serious complications.

Oral cancers affect more that 40,000 Americans annually. During routine dental check-ups, Dr. Kezian and his staff examine your mouth for early signs of oral cancer such as ulcers or white plaques. When oral cancers are detected and treated early, more conservative and less disfiguring treatments contribute to better successful outcomes.

Don’t fear a dental cleaning! Not only will you remove plaque build-up and identify early signs of tooth decay, you can remove stains and tooth discoloration as a result of drinking coffee, tea, or soda. Routine dental check-ups are an important part of oral health to reverse early changes associated with gum disease, detect and treat tooth decay early and screen for signs of oral cancers.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777