Cleanings & Exams
Routine cleanings, exams, and digital x-rays that catch problems early — when they are smaller, simpler, and less expensive to treat.
A cleaning is the least expensive appointment you will ever have with us, and the one that does the most work. Most of what we treat — decay, cracks, gum disease — starts small and silent. Seeing you regularly is how we find those things while they are still small.
What happens at your first visit
At your initial appointment we determine your periodontal diagnosis, which tells us whether a routine cleaning or a deeper cleaning is the right course of treatment. That diagnosis comes from measuring the pockets around each tooth, reviewing your x-rays, and looking at the health of the gum tissue itself.
Most patients need a routine cleaning. Some need scaling and root planing, a deeper cleaning that reaches below the gum line. If you have advanced periodontal disease, we will refer you to a specialist for further treatment rather than under-treating it here.
What an exam covers
- Decay — visually and with digital x-rays, including between teeth where it cannot be seen directly
- Existing dental work — fillings, crowns, and bridges that are wearing, leaking, or failing
- Gum health — pocket depths, bleeding, and recession, compared against your previous visits
- Bite and wear — signs of grinding, clenching, and cracked teeth
- Oral cancer screening — soft tissues of the mouth, tongue, and throat
Why it matters beyond your teeth
The mouth is often where systemic disease shows up first. Dentists frequently identify the signs of a condition before a physician does, simply because patients see us more often and we are looking closely at tissue that reflects what is happening elsewhere in the body. Early diagnosis gives you and your doctor more options.
How often should you come in?
Twice a year suits most healthy adults. If you have a history of gum disease, a dry mouth from medication, diabetes, or a heavy grinding habit, we may recommend three or four visits a year. We will tell you what we think you need and why, and the decision is yours.
Alongside treatment, we spend time on education — what is causing a problem, and what you can change at home to stop it recurring. That is the part of preventive care that keeps working after you leave.
Related treatments
Dental Sealants
A thin protective coating over the grooves of the back teeth, sealing out the bacteria that cause most childhood cavities.
Gum Disease Treatment
Treatment for bleeding, receding, and inflamed gums — from deeper cleanings through gum surgery, with referral to a specialist when that is the right call.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Composite fillings that repair small to medium cavities and damaged teeth, restoring both function and appearance.
Have a question about treatment?
Call the office and ask. We would rather answer it now than have you guess.