Dental Cleaning & Exam

Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis) 

A dental cleaning is performed to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. This helps prevent the progression of gingivitis into gum disease. Getting regular cleanings allows you to keep your mouth healthy. It is usually recommended that a dental cleaning is performed every six months, to maintain oral health and review if there are any new areas with cavities or other concerns. For some patients, we may suggest more frequent visits due to factors such as frequency of cavities, genetic susceptibility, or nutritional aspects. 

The Benefits of Professional Teeth Cleaning: 

  • Plaque removal. If plaque is allowed to sit on the teeth for more than 24 hours, it hardens and becomes calculus (or tartar). It can accumulate above and below the gum-line, causing gum problems and irritation. A dentist or hygienist uses specialized dental instruments to remove buildup. 

  • A healthier looking smile. Tooth stains can decrease the appearance of a smile. Prophylaxis works to clean and polish off any outer surface tooth stains. 

  • Fresher breath. Bad breath (or halitosis) is usually a combination of rotting food (below the gum-line) and potential gum infection. The regular removal of plaque, calculus, and bacteria will cause a noticeable improvement. 

Dental Exam

During a dental exam, our team will take x-rays, clean your child’s teeth, ask questions about nutrition and oral health habits, and thoroughly examine their teeth for any decay or infections that may be present. With this information in mind, we will demonstrate proper dental care and provide suggestions on how to improve your habits to promote optimal oral health in your child. Dental exams give us the opportunity to discuss your current methods of dental care for your child and provide suggestions for future care to protect them from complications such as cavities and gum disease. We can also detect problems early so they can be fixed quickly and easily.

A good dental care routine and regular check-ups will keep your child’s mouth healthy and prevent inflammation, decay, infection, and tooth loss.