Checkups and Cleanings
Preventive care is the foundation of dentistry. The American Dental Association recommends dental visits at least twice per year and sometimes every 3-4 months depending on your oral health. Dental cleanings help remove plaque and build-up that is not removable with solely conventional brushing and flossing. These visits include diagnostic x-rays and thorough clinical evaluations which allow our Hygienist and Dr Munkel to identify potential problems that patients are not yet able to see or feel. When you maintain regular preventive dental appointments, you can avoid decay and gum disease and identify the beginnings of oral health problems before they become severe.
Cleanings
Our skilled hygienists carefully remove plaque and tartar from every surface of teeth, explain and demonstrate best practices in at home hygiene, answer your questions, and make product recommendations.
Examinations
Dr. Munkel carefully examines your teeth, gums, and other oral structures in order to screen for common oral health concerns including tooth decay, gum disease, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) and oral cancer. He will respectfully explain his findings, answer any questions, and partner with you to create a plan for ongoing oral care that meets your personal needs.
Oral ID Cancer Screening
While many people believe that only those patients who use tobacco products need to receive oral cancer screenings, research has shown that more than 25% of those diagnosed with oral cancer DO NOT engage in any of the high risk behaviors associated with the disease. According to research conducted by the American Cancer society, more than 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 7,000 of these cases result in the death of the patient. The GOOD NEWS is that oral cancer can be effectively treated when caught in its earliest stages. The Oral ID is an optical based technology that allows Dr. Munkel to identify oral cancer, pre-cancer, and other abnormal lesions at an earlier stage, thus saving lives.
During regular check-ups, the dentist and hygienist will thoroughly look for changes and lesions in the mouth, but a dedicated comprehensive oral cancer screening should be performed at least once each year.
If you have any questions or concerns about oral cancer, please ask your dentist or dental hygienist.
