Preventive Hygiene

At Antigonish Family Dentistry, oral hygiene and cleaning is anything but routine. Regular dental exams and cleanings can help us detect and treat problems such as tooth decay.

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Preventive Dental Hygiene, Antigonish Dentist

Oral Examinations

During your exam at Antigonish Family Dentistry, our dentists will evaluate the overall health of your mouth. This includes an examination of your teeth, gums, jaw, and bite to ensure everything is functioning properly.

Our exams also include a soft tissue examination to check for any abnormalities or signs of disease. We also screen and examine for periodontal diseases, which can have serious consequences if left untreated.

Our detailed charting process will identify any cavities or existing restorations that may need attention.

Why is professional hygiene cleaning necessary?

When we clean your teeth, we're removing soft (plaque) and hard deposits (tartar, calculus or stains) from your teeth to help prevent or delay the progression of periodontal diseases.

What is a soft tissue exam?

A soft tissue exam is often used as an early detection tool for pathological changes in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth. While the majority of pathology in the mouth is benign, precancerous and cancerous changes in the oral tissues may be found with a regular soft tissue exam.

A soft tissue exam should include a visual inspection and finger exploration of the tongue, under the tongue, roof of the mouth, salivary glands, insides of the cheek, and the back of the throat. The tongue should be moved to allow for the inspection of its sides and base. The face, head, and neck should also be examined, and any enlarged lymph nodes identified.

Preventive Dental Hygiene, Antigonish Dentist

iTero Intraoral Scanner

At Antigonish Family Dentistry, we use the iTero intraoral scanner to take accurate impressions of your bite and create digital replicas of the hard and soft tissues of your mouth. It allows us to plan your dental treatment in real-time and store data digitally. 

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Detailed Charting

Dental examination also includes the inspection of every tooth surface for the presence of new decay and the status of existing restorations.

How often should you see the dentist?

Truth be told, the frequency of your oral hygiene exams and cleaning will depend on the health of your teeth and gums. Our dentists at Antigonish Family Dentistry recommend that children and adults have their teeth cleaned at least once every 6-12 months.

If you’re concerned that you may be at risk because of your age, tobacco use, rate of accumulation of deposits, personal oral hygiene practices, or medical conditions, such as diabetes, your teeth may need to be cleaned more often.

New Patients Always Welcome

Looking for a dentist in Antigonish? We're happily accepting new patients at our dental clinic! Contact us to get started today.

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Hours

  • Monday:08:00 am - 05:30 pm
  • Tuesday:08:00 am - 05:30 pm
  • Wednesday:08:00 am - 05:30 pm
  • Thursday:08:00 am - 05:30 pm
  • Friday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Saturday:Closed
  • Sunday:Closed

We can accommodate patients that want later appointments.
 

(902) 863-3450 Contact