Teeth Cleaning & Dental Checkups

There are many ways you can play an active role in maintaining your oral health. Having your teeth cleaned in our office every six months is an excellent place to start. Our hygienists and dentists identify plaque and problem areas before thoroughly cleaning your teeth, providing you with information to sustain a happy, healthy smile.

Why is it important to have consistent teeth cleanings and checkups?

Routine checkups are an essential part of proper oral hygiene. Some of the benefits of regular teeth cleanings include:

• Healthier bones and gums.
• Longer lasting teeth.
• Early detection and treatment of cancer and other oral health conditions.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What happens when we miss teeth cleanings?

Failure to keep up on proper oral hygiene can lead to:

• An impaired ability to eat and digest foods, leading to nutritional and systemic problems.
• Bad breath, resulting from advancing periodontal disease and/or rotting food particles.
• Negative effects on cardiovascular well-being and overall health.
• Gum infection and gangrene.

What to Expect at Your First Checkup

Our dental cleaning appointments are about an hour-long, and new patient visits typically last an hour and a half or longer. We take pride in getting to know each of our patients, tailoring treatments to the health needs and goals of every individual. Here’s what to expect the first time you come to our office:

• Dental History—A hygienist will gather dental and medical histories so that we have a clear picture of your current health, including any medical conditions that can impact dental treatment.

• Digital X-rays—We take digital x-rays as diagnostic material for your comprehensive oral exam. If you have had x-rays taken within the last 12 months, please have them sent to our office. If you are unable to have x-rays taken, please inform the hygienist as you give your medical history.

• Diagnostic Photos—We take a series of intraoral and extraoral photos for diagnostic and esthetic purposes.

• Oral Screening and Teeth Exams—After we perform an oral cancer/lesion screening for symptoms of cancer and other illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, we examine your teeth for decay.

• Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings—Our hygienist will evaluate your gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe, and clean your teeth, if there are no signs of periodontal disease by identifying and removing areas of tartar, plaque, and calculus.

• Oral Hygiene Habits—We end your visit by reviewing and reinforcing proper oral hygiene.

Cleanings:

Most dental benefits apply towards teeth cleanings. After all, not maintaining good oral hygiene will most likely lead to astronomical costs down the road, as failure to keep up with teeth cleanings often leads to serious and expensive health problems. Every patient’s budgetary situation is different, so we are happy to discuss yours with you. At a consultation, we present any possible costs up front to help you navigate your dental benefits. Our main objective is to help you have a successful oral health experience.

Proper Oral Hygiene: How to Prevent Tooth Decay

There are several simple and affordable ways in which you can fight tooth decay—a common chronic health condition.

1. Brush twice and floss once daily.
2. Have dental cleanings and checkups twice a year.
3. Eat fewer sugary and acidic foods.
4. Take fluoride tablets, which make teeth more resistant to decay.
5. Ask your dentist about additional cleaning supplements.