Oral Hygiene & General Dentistry in Twin Falls, ID

In most cases, dental cleanings are not painful. All you should feel is the pressure from the scaling. However, if you have sensitive teeth or irritated gum tissue, you may feel some discomfort. If you’re worried about pain during your dental cleaning, please don’t hesitate to make your concerns known.

One of the biggest benefits of regular cleanings is that they help to protect your oral health. Cleaning buildup from the surfaces of your teeth protects your teeth from decay and cavities. 

It also removes buildup from along your gum line, which prevents the irritation and inflammation that can otherwise lead to gingivitis and gum disease. By preventing these issues from developing, you avoid experiencing more the more significant complications that they can cause. You also save money by not having to undergo treatment for these issues.

Even if your mouth feels perfectly fine and you don’t think that there is anything wrong, it’s still important to have regular dental visits. This is because most issues do not exhibit symptoms in the earliest stages. 

If symptoms are present, they are often barely noticeable, and therefore go overlooked. Without an exam, you might never know that there is anything wrong. By the time symptoms begin to make themselves known, the issue has progressed into something more significant. What could have been an easy, inexpensive fix suddenly requires more invasive, more expensive care.

X-rays are an integral part of helping us to spot issues. They allow us to see parts of your mouth that are otherwise impossible to see. X-rays are generally recommended annually. If you have certain risk factors, however, or you are exhibiting symptoms of certain oral health issues, we may recommend them more frequently.

There are certain factors that can put you at a greater risk of developing oral cancer. One of the biggest factors is smoking and using other tobacco products. Those who drink heavily are also at an increased risk. 

Other risk factors include family history, sex, and your age. Just because you do not have any significant risk factors; however, that does not mean you cannot develop oral cancer. The disease can impact anyone, so regular screenings are incredibly important.

Your oral cancer screening is not painful at all. You might never even notice that the screening is being done. We look over the soft tissues in your mouth, looking for unusual coloration, growths, and anything else that looks suspicious. We look at your lips, cheeks, tongue, and palate. You may feel us move your tongue so we can check underneath it. We also feel your neck and throat for swelling and growths.

If we do find signs of oral cancer, it is important not to panic. A more thorough examination will be needed. While what we find could be oral cancer, it is also possible that is another issue entirely, or it is nothing at all. 

One of the most common ways to diagnose oral cancer is with what is called a soft tissue biopsy. This is a process in which we remove a small amount of tissue from the abnormality so that we can examine it under a microscope. 

This will allow us to determine the presence of cancerous cells. Should you be diagnosed with oral cancer, we can then help you to get the treatment you need right away. Treatments may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.