Preventative Care

Dental Examinations and Teeth Cleaning NC Chapel Hill

You can actively contribute to maintaining your dental health in a variety of ways. A great way to start is by having your teeth cleaned at our clinic every six months. Before completely cleaning your teeth, our hygienists and dentists identify plaque and trouble spots and provide you with advice on how to maintain a cheerful, healthy smile.

Why is it crucial to regularly have your teeth cleaned and examined?

A crucial component of maintaining good dental hygiene is regular examinations. Regular dental cleanings have a number of advantages, including:

• Healthy bones and gums.
• Teeth that last
• Early detection and treatment of cancer and other oral health conditions.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What occurs if we skip dental cleanings?

Keeping up with good dental hygiene helps prevent:

• Developing periodontal disease and/or impacted food particles might cause bad breath.
• Adverse consequences on general health and cardiovascular well-being.
• Gum infections

Our dental cleaning appointments last around an hour, while new patient appointments usually take a little longer. We take pleasure in getting to know each of our patients so that we may customize treatments to meet their unique requirements and objectives. What to expect when visiting our office for the first time is as follows:

Dental History

To provide a thorough picture of your present health, including any medical disorders that can affect dental treatment, a hygienist will collect dental and medical histories.

Digital X-rays

Digital x-rays are used as diagnostic tools throughout your thorough oral checkup. Please send any x-rays you’ve recently had to our office if they were taken within the last year. Please let the hygienist know during the course of your medical history if you are unable to have x-rays taken.

Oral Screening and Teeth Exams

We check your teeth for decay after performing an oral cancer/lesion screening for signs of cancer and other disorders like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings

By using a probe to measure periodontal pockets, our hygienist will assess your gums and clean your teeth by locating and removing tartar, plaque, and calculus buildup.

Oral Hygiene Habits

We end your visit by reviewing and reinforcing proper oral hygiene.

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

You may combat tooth decay, a prevalent chronic health disease, in a number of easy and economical ways.

• Brush twice and floss once daily.
• Have dental cleanings and checkups twice a year.
• Eat fewer sugary and acidic foods.
• Use fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinse.
• Ask your dentist or hygienist about additional cleaning implements.

The Teeth Cleaning Procedure

Plaque, a soft film that may be removed by brushing, and tartar, a hardened film that must be removed with dental instruments, are both identified and removed by your dental hygienist when you visit for a cleaning. We make every attempt to thoroughly clean your teeth, including the minuscule gaps in between them and the gum line where bacteria tend to congregate.

The use of prophy paste to finish cleaning is common. The teeth are left bright and smooth thanks to the coarse character of the toothpaste, which removes any lingering plaque as it turns into a finer texture. We let you know if there are any spots where plaque and tartar have accumulated so you can brush and floss more frequently in those regions. We want to make it possible for you to take care of your teeth quickly and efficiently.

Are there different kinds of teeth cleanings?

No. The sole dental procedure of its kind is prophylaxis, a fancy phrase for cleaning teeth. Every six months, routine teeth cleaning is part of prophylaxis.

The procedures that are sometimes called “cleanings” are actually 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

The majority of dental insurance plans offer benefits that pay for dental cleanings. After all, failing to practice basic dental hygiene will almost certainly result in exorbitant charges in the future, as skipping teeth cleanings frequently causes major and expensive health issues. We are pleased to talk with you about your financial status because each patient’s financial condition is unique. To assist you in navigating your insurance coverage, we present any potential charges up front during a consultation. Our main goal is to make sure you have a positive oral health experience.