Dental Exams: Your First Step
Towards Managing Your Oral Health
Whether you’re a veteran of the dentist’s chair, or you’re just starting a more comprehensive oral health routine, Elevate Dental strives to provide you with a comfortable, compassionate, and enlightening experience whenever you come in to see us.
Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are among the most common services that we provide. During your appointment, you’ll find help from a caring team and learn more about how you can support your oral health.
Book your next check-up and cleaning today!
Why Are Check-Ups & Cleanings Important?
While daily brushing and flossing can help prevent numerous oral health issues from developing, exams and cleanings are a fantastic way to learn more about your oral health and what it may need.
Some issues can develop without your knowledge, but exams can detect these problems and allow our team the opportunity to address them before they potentially lead to further oral health concerns.
Every dental check-up and cleaning includes a detailed conversation with your dentist, a comprehensive look at your oral health, and a cleaning provided by our dental hygienists. To help address potential problems, we recommend having an exam and cleaning every 6 months.
What’s Checked During an Exam
Oral health exams follow a detailed process that looks at your jaw, gums, teeth, cheeks, throat, and more.
We’ll confirm your health history during the exam, address issues that you may be experiencing, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. The process follows a few unique steps using technology that grants us a comprehensive view of your oral health.
X-Rays
X-rays can help our team detect potential issues like oral cancer or cavities. They can also help us examine your tooth alignment or any dental appliances you may be using for treatment.
X-rays emit a small amount of radiation to create images, but this amount is small enough that it is safe to use for all ages. In fact, we may not need an x-ray depending on your oral health and age.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is an issue we routinely look for during a dental exam. It’s important to detect oral cancer as early as possible so our team can adequately address the problem before it becomes more severe.
Red and white spots in your mouth could be a sign of oral cancer, as well as abnormal lumps in your cheeks and throat. Your risk of developing oral cancer could increase if you smoke tobacco, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, or have had a previous cancer diagnosis.
Looking At Your Tooth & Gum Health
Much of your oral health depends on your tooth and gum health, which are commonly affected by plaque and tartar buildup.
Consuming foods and drinks can create a thin, sticky substance on your teeth called plaque. Over time, bacteria in plaque can wear down your tooth’s enamel to form a cavity. Cavities are issues that could progress into your tooth pulp and cause infections, requiring a root canal. We can help treat cavities with fillings.
Plaque can also harden into tartar, which forms underneath your gum line and could lead to gum disease if it is not addressed.
What Happens During a Cleaning
Dental cleanings are a routine process performed by a dental hygienist to remove plaque and tartar and help prevent cavities and gum disease from developing.
Brushing and flossing can help minimize the risk of building-up plaque and tartar. However, everybody can develop these issues over time, so it’s important to regularly have professional cleanings to help prevent plaque and tartar from causing further oral health problems.
Scaling
Scaling is a professional cleaning process that clears away stuck-on plaque and tartar that you might not be able to clean with regular brushing and flossing.
It’s normal to experience some pressure or bleeding during the scaling process.
Polishing
After the scaling, we polish your teeth with gritty toothpaste and a high-powered electric toothbrush to remove any excess tartar remaining on your teeth.
Flossing
Professional flossing can help remove any paste, plaque, and tartar remaining in your mouth.
Fluoride Treatment
At the end of your cleaning, we apply a fluoride paste to help support your enamel and protect it from harmful bacteria found in plaque and tartar. Don’t forget to ask us about the flavours we offer!
Comprehensive Care Awaits
If you’re ready to see how Elevate Dental can support your oral health, be sure to book an appointment with us today. We’re excited to meet you!
Our Location
Elevate Dental is conveniently located in the heart of Vernon, on 48th Avenue. We have free parking available in our private lot and street parking just a few steps away from our front doors.
If you’re having trouble finding us, please give us a call!
Our Address
- 2900 48th Ave
- Vernon, BC V1T-8Z6
Contact Information
- Phone: 250-549-5115
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday : 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday : 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday : 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
*Closed weekends and all statutory holidays
OUR GOOGLE REVIEWS
OUR TESTIMONIALS
I had an accident that resulted in a cracked tooth and a lot of pain. They saw me the same day I called and came in the next day, on a closed day on a long weekend, to fix it! Great staff ( thank you Cindy and Sherry) and Dr Hakkaarrt was very thorough in her assessment and repair of my injury. She is the best at giving freezing needles that I ever experienced. I would give 6 stars if I could. Thank you to you all for your help.
Dawn C.
Dr. Krystal is excellent! I highly recommend her and her team to everyone who is looking to keep their teeth where they should be.
Jay S.
I desperately needed to get out of pain. There are no words to describe how WONDERFUL my experience with Dr. Krystal and her staff! Greeted with respect, dignity and a deep desire to provide the best possible care for her patients and their many, diverse needs. Having neglected myself and my teeth comes the my own challenges and going to the dentist is quite a daunting challenge to say the least. Patience, persistence, and perseverance is what it takes with each individual and Dr. Krystal and her staff come through with flying colors! Alway’s warm and welcoming and not satisfied until their patient is happy with whatever work may have been needed! My gratitude for this dentist and her staff goes beyond the stars! There is no other dentist I would go to or recommend! When you find the best, you keep it!
Lee-Ann S.
