Should a dentist *vigorously* and *aggressively* probe & pick at your teeth in search of cavities & problems?

I see a dentist who is a lovely person and seems very competent, but unlike every other dentist I have ever seen, he is laid back in picking and probing for problems. I have lots of tooth problems (lots of fillings and crowns), and he certainly finds some proactively (or I come in reporting problems) but I am just not sure his style is right, P.S. His dental assistant gives cleanings that *never* hurt -- again unlike past experience and not sure if that means it is not a sufficient cleaning.

Should a dentist *vigorously* and *aggressively* probe %26amp; pick at your teeth in search of cavities %26amp; problems?
I doubt the dental assistant is legally allowed to scale (scrape) your teeth; she is probably only doing a coronal polishing, and that's why it doens't 'hurt'. Depending on your state, this could be illegal, so you may want to check on it. Go to www.danb.org and see what she's legally allowed to do. Some states are more strict than others as far as expanded duties are concerned, but it's possible that she's commiting malpractice.





As far as the dentist's exam is concerned, if you don't feel he's doing his job, then switch. They all have their own personal 'style' when it comes to finding decay/problems, but in the end, if something is to be found, it will be....





:)
Reply:I liked the answer that CDA-NY gave. I am a Dental Hygienist who works in three different offices. There are dentists who check vigorously for cavities and there are some who don't. The one that doesn't has a reason- He says that if you poke too hard you can turn a superficial cavity into a real one. Every day you can remineralize a tooth with fluoride and a cavity won't go through the enamel. One good way to see if the hygienist is thorough is to have a cleaning/exam by another dental office/ Check with your friends that have good teeth and respect their dentist for referrals.A good hygienist will always do a check of the tongue, cheeks, and mucosa around the inside especially , probe the teeth and tell you what the readings are-normal is 1-3 mm./ and scale the teeth individually all around -usually twice. Then he/she will polish if necessary . Sometimes they use an ultasonic scaler.A good cleaning doesn't necessarily hurt - but you should feel the instrument going around the tooth/gum area. You can also ask for a mirror to watch. Ask questions as well- like what are you going to do? how are my teeth? what are my pocket depths? Good luck!!

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