Dental Checkups And Cleanings
Essential Routine Care For Patients of All Ages
At Littleton Dental Studio, we want to help all of our patients maintain great oral health and avoid major dental work and painful emergencies as much as possible. And, in our experience, we’ve found that scheduling a dental cleaning and checkup every six months is the best way to do that. Just like you take your vehicle in for routine maintenance to prevent breakdowns, it’s equally important to bring your smile in for an occasional “tune-up” as well! If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist or you simply want to be proactive about your oral health, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Why Do You Need Checkups and Cleanings?
Along with good habits at home, checkups and cleanings are the best way to minimize your time in the dental chair. When Dr. Beasley can monitor your teeth regularly, he’s able to detect cavities, gum disease, and other issues early on when treatment is easier and less expensive. One good way of thinking about it is remembering that insurance companies often cover these preventive services at 100%. Why? They know it means fewer procedures they’ll have to cover later on. More importantly, it prevents you from dealing with the discomfort of major dental work.
What Can You Expect From a Checkup?
Dr. Beasley is very thorough during his checkup exams because he wants to make sure that every aspect of your oral health is on track. Since your dental health and general health are connected, he’ll begin by reviewing your medical history. Then he’ll ask if you have any concerns and review any diagnostic images that were necessary like digital X-rays (these are usually taken once per year).
Since gum disease is quite common and puts you at risk for tooth loss, heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications and more, we’ll examine your gums once each year. If we see any indications of gum problems we may recommend more frequent cleanings or a special type of cleaning called scaling and root planing that’s specifically designed to treat gum disease.
Then Dr. Beasley will perform a simple oral cancer screening that takes just minutes. Finally, he’ll look closely at your teeth and existing dental work. If you need additional treatment, he’ll review his findings, make recommendations, and answer any questions you may have.
What Can You Expect From a Cleaning?
We’ll be making sure you stay comfortable throughout your cleaning and will start by asking if you have any concerns beforehand. Then we’ll use a variety of tools to carefully remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth and under your gumline. The last step is polishing and flossing to help your teeth feel slick and smooth (and also look great!) In addition, you’ll get personalized tips for your oral hygiene routine at home to keep things healthy between visits.