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 hygiene specialists help to identify plaque and problem areas and educate you by providing you with professional recommendations 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.
• Prevent bad breath, gum infection and cavities.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What to Expect at Your First Checkup

Here’s what to expect the first time you come to our office:

• Dental History—We 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 in advance.

• Oral Screening, Teeth & TMJ 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 and your bite for TMD, occlusal disease, wear and fractures.

• Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings—We will evaluate your gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe, and clean your teeth by identifying and removing areas of tartar, plaque, and calculus.

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

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. Schedule dental cleanings and checkups twice a year.
3. Eat fewer sugary and acidic foods.
4. We offer fluoride treatment, which make teeth more resistant to decay.
5. Ask your dentist about additional cleaning supplements.

Teeth Cleaning Procedure at our office

When you come in for a cleaning, your dental hygienist identifies and removes plaque—a soft film that can be removed by brushing—and tartar—a hardened plaque that requires dental instruments for removal. We make every effort to clean all surfaces of your teeth, including the tiny spaces between your teeth and along gum-lines where cavity-causing bacteria gather and sit on the teeth.

We often complete the cleaning and finish with polishing which leaves the teeth shiny and smooth. We inform you of any areas where plaque and tartar build-up, so you can give those places extra attention by flossing and brushing each day. Our goal is to educate and provide you with new techniques to effectively care for your teeth.

Are there different kinds of teeth cleanings?

Our main objective is to help you have a successful oral health experience. Depending on your individual needs, there are customized teeth cleaning options for what your teeth and gums may need:

• Prophylaxis—a fancy word for teeth cleaning. You are seen every six months for your routine teeth cleaning.
• Full Mouth Debridement—a pre-cleaning for those with severe calculus build up.
• Scaling and Root Planing—a deep cleaning for those with early stages of gum disease.
• Perio Maintenance—a periodontal cleaning for those with a history of gum disease.