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.
• Improve longevity of natural teeth and restorations (fillings, crowns and dental implants).
• Early detection of non cancerous, pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What happens when we miss teeth cleanings?

Failure to keep up on proper oral hygiene may result in:

• Gingivitis/inflammation – the body is a network/connected.  Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity can be correlated with systemic inflammation
• Halitosis/bad breath, resulting from untreated periodontal disease and/or rotting food particles.
• Premature failure of natural teeth and restorations (fillings, crowns and dental implants).
• Acute gum infection/gingival abscess.

What to Expect at Your First Cleaning:

Our dental cleaning appointments are about an hour-long.  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 or dental assistant will gather dental and medical histories (which will be reviewed by the dentist) 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. 

• Oral Screening and Teeth Exams—After we perform an oral cancer/lesion screening, we examine your teeth for decay.

• Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings—Our hygienist will evaluate your gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe.  In the absence of active periodontitis the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth by identifying and removing areas of tartar, plaque, and calculus.  If active periodontal disease is diagnosed a debridement may be completed (depending on the stage of the disease), or referral to a Periodontist may be provided.

• Oral Hygiene Habits—We end your visit by thoroughly reviewing proper oral hygiene/home care techniques.

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.

The Teeth Cleaning Procedure

When you come in for a cleaning, your dentist or 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 bacteria gather.

We often complete the cleaning with prophy paste. Its coarse quality, which removes any remaining plaque as it dissolves into a finer texture, 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 enable you to easily and effectively care for your teeth.

Are there different kinds of teeth cleanings?

No. Prophylaxis—a fancy word for teeth cleaning—is the only dental procedure of its kind. Prophylaxis involves a routine teeth cleaning every six months.

The procedures that are sometimes called “cleanings” are actually periodontal treatments:

• 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 periodontal disease
• Perio Maintenance—a periodontal cleaning for those with a history of treated/arrested periodontal disease.

The Cost of Teeth Cleaning

Most dental insurance policies include benefits that cover teeth cleanings. After all, not maintaining good oral hygiene will most likely lead to more invasive procedures down the road.  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 insurance benefits. Our main objective is to help you have a successful oral health experience.