Teeth Cleaning & Dental Checkups

There are many ways you can actively participate in maintaining your child’s oral health. Having their 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 their teeth, providing you with information to help 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.
• Longer lasting teeth.
• Early detection and treatment of cancer and other oral health conditions.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What happens when we miss teeth cleanings?

Failure to keep up on proper oral hygiene can lead to:

• An impaired ability to eat and digest foods leads to nutritional and systemic problems.
• Bad breath results from advancing periodontal disease and rotting food particles.
• Negative effects on cardiovascular well-being and overall health.
• Gum infection and gangrene.

What to Expect at Your Child’s First Checkup

Our dental cleaning appointments are about an hour long, and new patient visits typically last a bit longer. We take pride in getting to know each of our patients and tailoring treatments to every individual’s health needs and goals. Here’s what to expect the first time you come to our office:

• Dental History—A hygienist will gather dental and medical histories to give us a clear picture of your child’s current health, including any medical conditions that can impact dental treatment.

• Digital X-rays—We take digital X-rays as diagnostic material for your child’s comprehensive oral exam. If your child has had X-rays taken within the last 12 months, please have them sent to our office. If your child is unable to have X-rays taken, please inform the hygienist as you give your medical history.

• Oral Screening and Teeth Exams—After we perform oral cancer/lesion screening for symptoms of cancer and other illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, we examine your child’s teeth for decay.

• Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings—Our hygienist will evaluate your child’s gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe, and clean their teeth by identifying and removing areas of tartar, plaque, and calculus.

• Oral Hygiene Habits—We end the visit by reviewing and reinforcing proper oral hygiene.

Proper Oral Hygiene: How to Prevent Tooth Decay

There are several simple and affordable ways to 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 about additional cleaning supplements.

The Teeth Cleaning Procedure

When your child comes in for a cleaning, their dental hygienist identifies and removes plaque—a soft film that can be removed by brushing—and tartar—a hardened plaque that requires dental instruments. We make every effort to clean all surfaces of the teeth, including the tiny spaces between their teeth and along gum lines where bacteria gather.

We often complete the cleaning with prophy paste. Its coarse quality removes any remaining plaque as it dissolves into a finer texture, leaving the teeth shiny and smooth. We inform you of any areas where plaque and tartar build-up so you can make sure your child gives those places extra attention by flossing and brushing each day. Our goal is to enable your child to easily and effectively care for their teeth.

Are there different kinds of teeth cleanings?

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

The procedures that are sometimes called “cleanings” are 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 gum disease.
• Perio Maintenance—a periodontal cleaning for those with a history of gum 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 astronomical costs, as failure to keep up with teeth cleanings often leads to serious and expensive health problems. Every patient’s budgetary situation differs, so we are happy to discuss your child with you. At a consultation, we present any possible costs upfront to help you navigate your insurance benefits. Our main objective is to help you have a successful oral health experience.