Teeth Cleaning and Exams

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 identify plaque and problem areas before thoroughly cleaning your teeth, providing you with information to sustain a happy, healthy smile.

Routine checkups are an essential part of proper oral hygiene. Some of the benefits of regular teeth cleanings include healthier a jawbone and gums, longer lasting teeth and early detection and treatment of cancer and other oral health conditions.

What to Expect

Our dental cleaning appointments take just under an hour, and new patient visits typically last a bit 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 when you come to Family Dental Center for a teeth cleaning and exam:

  • Dental History: Our hygienist will gather your dental and medical history 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 once a year. If this is your first visit and you have had x-rays taken elsewhere 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.

  • Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings: Our hygienist will evaluate your gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe as needed, and clean your teeth by identifying and removing areas of plaque and calculus (tartar).

  • Teeth Exam and Oral Screening: Our dentists perform an oral cancer/lesion screening for symptoms of cancer and other illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes and examine your teeth for decay.

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

The Teeth Cleaning Procedure

When you come for a cleaning, our dental hygienists identify and remove plaque and caculus, 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 gumlines 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 calculus accumulate, so you can give those places extra attention by brushing and flossing each day.

Our goal is to enable you to easily and effectively care for your teeth.