The primary goal of preventive dentistry is to maintain optimal oral health. Daily home-care practices, such as brushing and flossing, combined with periodic in-office preventive care, like standard and deep cleanings, are vital components in keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. Brushing and flossing alone, however, will not remove tartar (a form of hardened dental plaque), which is why professional dental cleanings are so crucial. When plaque and tartar remain on teeth for too long, the risk of developing gingivitis is high. Left untreated, gingivitis will advance to the more serious periodontitis, a disease that will eventually damage the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth.
What you can expect: A regular cleaning and examination takes about 30 - 45 mins. In a typical checkup, patients are seen by both a hygienist and a dentist. The hygienist cleans and polishes your teeth, talks to you about caring for your teeth and answers your questions. The dentist reviews the cleaning done by the hygienist, conducts an oral exam of your gums and teeth, diagnoses any oral health problems, orders x-rays (if appropriate) and makes treatment recommendations. Checkups are important not only for cleaning, but to find any problems early.
Two dental visits every year are recommended by us for maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.
