Q
: What part of your body helps you to
digest
your favorite foods, say "cheese," and look great in
pictures?
A
: Your
teeth
!
It's true. Your teeth are an important part of your smile,
and they also help you chew foods like crunchy apples or yummy
pizza. Brushing and flossing are important, but you also need to
visit your dentist regularly to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Read this article to learn more about what happens at the
dentist's office.
What Does the Dentist Do?
The dentist is a doctor who is specially trained to care for
teeth. When you visit for a checkup, your dentist will look at your
teeth and gums to check for any problems. The dentist also wants to
make sure your teeth are developing properly as you grow. It's
important to visit your dentist every 6 months to make sure
you're taking good care of your teeth and that your teeth and
gums are healthy.
What Happens at the Dentist's Office?
After your name is called in the waiting room, you'll go
into an exam room and sit down in a big, comfortable chair that is
like a huge recliner. The chair will have a place to rest your head
and lots of room for you to stretch out your legs. Next to the
chair may be a little sink with a cup that you can use to rinse out
your mouth as your teeth are being cleaned.
During the exam, your teeth will be cleaned, flossed, and
checked for cavities.
Cleaning and Flossing
One of the first people you'll meet at the dentist's
office is the
dental hygienist
(say: hi-
jeh
-nist). A dental hygienist is a person who knows all about keeping
teeth and gums clean and healthy.
The dental hygienist will look inside your mouth to make sure
your teeth are growing properly and your gums are healthy. A
bright, overhead light will shine down into your mouth like a giant
flashlight so the dental hygienist can get a good look inside your
mouth.
The dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth, using
tiny dental tools like a tooth scraper, mirror, and special
toothbrush. The tooth scraper removes
plaque
(say:
plak
) from your teeth. Plaque is a thin, sticky layer that coats your
teeth and contains
bacteria
(say: bak-
teer
-ee-uh) that grow on your teeth over time. Plaque that isn't
removed from your teeth can cause decay, or a cavity (say:
kah
-vuh-tee).
Next comes brushing and flossing. The dental hygienist will
brush your teeth with a special toothbrush and toothpaste. The
toothbrush has a small, round tip that moves around and around to
clean your teeth. The toothpaste might taste like your own
toothpaste at home, but it will feel a little grittier - almost
like sand.
Then the dental hygienist will floss your teeth and show you the
proper way to brush and floss your teeth at home.
Flossing
involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in
between your teeth and remove food particles that your brush
can't reach.
Checking for Cavities
During your visit, the dental hygienist will take X-rays, or
pictures, of your teeth. X-rays are like superhuman vision. They
can show cavities hiding between your teeth and problems beneath
your gums. A
cavity
is a decayed, or rotted, part of a tooth.
It does not hurt to get an X-ray and it takes only a few
seconds. The dental hygienist will place a thick blanket over your
chest (to protect your body from the high-energy waves) and put a
piece of plastic (that holds the X-ray film) into your mouth. As
you gently bite down on the plastic, you'll have to be very
still for a few seconds while the dental hygienist snaps the
picture.
Fluoride Treatments
Next it's time for your
fluoride
(say:
floor
-ide) treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral that makes your
teeth strong and helps prevent cavities. At the dentist's
office, a fluoride gel or foam will be applied to your teeth. Most
dental offices offer fluoride treatments with flavoring, like
bubble gum or grape.
The fluoride treatment will take about 1 to 4 minutes. The
dental hygienist will probably tell you not to eat or drink
anything (including water) for 30 minutes after the fluoride
treatment.
Meeting the Dentist
The dentist will look at all of your teeth and check your gums
to make sure they're strong and healthy. The dentist will also
check the way your top and bottom teeth work together. This is
called your
bite
. If he or she thinks you have a problem with your bite, you may be
referred to an
orthodontist
(say: or-tho-
don
-tist). This is a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or
positions of all your teeth through orthodontia, or
braces
.
The dentist will study your X-rays (looking for cavities or
other problems) and ask if you have any questions about your teeth.
Your dentist may also prescribe fluoride drops or tablets for you
to take every day at home.
Presents From the Dentist!
When your checkup is over, the dentist usually will have a
present for you! The gift is often a free toothbrush or dental
floss to use at home or some sugar-free gum.
What Happens If I Have a Cavity?
If you have a cavity, you'll probably have to come back to
the dentist's office for another visit. At that time, the
dentist will remove the decayed part from your tooth with special
dental tools. Then the decayed area will be filled with materials
that will keep your tooth strong and healthy, like tooth-colored or
silver fillings.
As soon as you sit down in the dental chair, the dentist will
give you a tiny shot of an
anesthetic
(say: ah-nus-
theh
-tik), a medicine that numbs the area around the tooth. Your mouth
may be numb for a little while after you leave the dentist's
office, but the anesthestic will soon wear off and you'll be
left with a beautiful smile!
Dental Words
Some words used at the dentist's office might be new to you.
Here are a few and what they mean:
-
bacteria
- tiny organisms that live on your teeth and are found in
plaque
-
cavity
- the decayed, or rotten, part of a tooth
-
dental hygienist
- a person with special training about the proper way to keep
teeth and gums clean and healthy
-
dental X-rays
- pictures of your teeth and gums that will show a dentist
whether there are any cavities
-
flossing
- involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to
get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your
toothbrush can't reach
-
fluoride treatment
- a gel or foam applied to teeth that makes them strong and helps
prevent cavities
-
orthodontist
- a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions
of your teeth
-
plaque
- a thin, sticky layer containing bacteria that grow on your
teeth
Reviewed by:
Lisa A. Goss, RDH, BS, and Garrett B. Lyons Sr., DDS
Date reviewed: April 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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