Preventive Exams & Cleanings

Regular Dental Exams & Cleanings

In general, you should attend a dental exam and cleaning appointment at least once every six months. During your visit, one of our experienced hygienists will carefully clean away plaque and tartar, which contain bacteria that could threaten the health of your teeth, gums, and oral tissues. When not professionally cleaned on a regular basis, oral bacteria can produce substances that attack healthy tooth structure (causing tooth decay) or infect your sensitive gum tissues (causing gum disease). Your doctor can then carefully examine your oral health and recommend an appropriate treatment if a tooth needs to be restored, or if you wish to improve your smile’s appearance.

Examination

A dental checkup is a professional inspection to check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or dental damage. The earliest stages of such conditions are not always easily noticeable, and a thorough examination will allow us to detect and treat them before they become more serious. Your doctor will also carefully inspect your oral tissues for lesions, growths, sores, and other early indications of oral cancer.

Advanced imaging technology like intraoral cameras, digital X-rays, and CT scans provide more precise and accurate diagnoses. This examination will help your dentist determine if your teeth and gums are healthy, or if you should discuss options for treatment based on an existing condition.

Cleaning

When you brush and floss your teeth, you remove the film of plaque that has collected on them throughout the day. Comprised mostly of bacteria, plaque also contains saliva and particles of food that oral bacteria feed on. If not routinely removed, plaque will eventually calcify into tartar and will remain on your teeth in spite of how often you brush and floss. Besides being uncomfortable, plaque and tartar are also leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease, and regular cleanings are necessary to prevent such dental problems from arising.

A professional dental cleaning is performed the same day as your examination and allows your hygienist to remove plaque/tartar before the bacteria affect your teeth and gums. If your gums are already at risk from excessive bacteria buildup, then we may recommend scheduling a periodontal cleaning as soon as possible to reduce the threat of gum disease.