The secret to having a healthy smile is practicing good dental hygiene at home and seeing your dentist at least every 6 months. During your appointment, we’ll examine the inside of your mouth and take X-rays. We’ll also so you can maintain a healthy smile.
What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?
The secret to having a healthy smile is practicing good dental hygiene at home and seeing one of our dentists in Plymouth, MI, at least every 6 months. During your appointment, we’ll examine the inside of your mouth and take X-rays. We’ll also remove dental plaque and tartar so you can maintain a healthy smile.
Here’s a more in-depth look at what you can expect during your next teeth cleaning appointment with us.
Initial Examination
First, our dental hygienist will examine the inside of your mouth. If they detect any obvious issues, such as tooth decay, they’ll pause the appointment and alert one of our dentists.
If the issue is serious, the dentist may take over the appointment from there. Otherwise, we’ll move onto the next step of your dental cleaning.
Dental X-Rays
We may need to take dental X-rays depending on how long it’s been since your last ones. This allows us to detect any issues beneath the surface before they have the chance to worsen.
For example, our dentists may notice that your teenager has impacted wisdom teeth. Likewise, they may detect bone loss in your jaw if you recently lost a tooth.
Plaque and Tartar Removal
It’s easy to by brushing and flossing your teeth every day. But only a dental professional will be able to remove plaque that’s hardened into tartar.
During your appointment, the hygienist will use a special dental tool called a “scaler” to gently scrape away any plaque and tartar buildup. They’ll then use a high-powered toothbrush to polish your teeth.
As a final step, the hygienist will floss between your teeth to remove any hidden plaque and have you rinse.
Oral Examination From Your Dentist
When you’re ready, one of our dentists will come around to perform the final examination. They’ll also take a look at any X-rays we may have taken during your appointment.
During this time, you may ask your dentist any questions about your oral health. We’d be more than happy to advise you on the best techniques for brushing your teeth or recommend certain products.
Related: What is Preventive Dentistry? →
Once the dentist is done examining your mouth, we’ll set up your next professional teeth cleaning. In general, we recommend that our patients see us at least every 6 months. But our dentists may want to see you more often if you have a chronic oral health condition they need to closely monitor.
Potential Treatment Planning
If your dentist detects an issue with your oral health during your , they’ll diagnose the problem and recommend an appropriate course of treatment. For example, they may recommend a filling to restore a tooth with a small cavity.
Schedule a Teeth Cleaning Appointment
Our dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, are accepting new patients. To schedule a teeth cleaning appointment, please call Enhance Family Dentistry & Orthodontics at (734) 821-7676. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
