Cleanings & Exams
Many people wonder if making it to their biannual dental appointment is really necessary.
The short answer is – yes!
Good preventive care helps reduce your risk for certain illnesses and can help you achieve and maintain the level of excellent oral health that lets you look and feel your best.
Providing Your Medical History
Your biannual visit is a great opportunity to tell your dentist about any issues or discomfort you’ve been experiencing in your mouth. You’ll also want to escribe your medical history and come prepared with a list of any medications you take.
Knowing your medical history allows your dentist to gain a better understanding of your overall health. After all, there is a strong systemic link between the health of your mouth and the prevalence of many serious health concerns. For example, periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is associated with heart disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and low birth weight in babies born to mothers with the disease.
Examinations
Symptoms of some dental conditions may be so subtle that only a dentist can identify them.
During your visit, your dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth and check for signs of tooth decay. You’ll also be evaluated for risk factors associated with illnesses like bone loss and periodontal disease. This way, potential problems can be identified in their early stages while they are easily treatable.
Your dentist will also check your bite and may administer x-rays or recommend other diagnostic measures.
Teeth Cleaning
During your visit, your teeth will be gently and professionally cleaned. Your dental team will meticulously remove hard-to-reach plaque. At this time, you may be given tips on how to improve your at-home care routine, and your hygienist can show you proper procedures for brushing and flossing.
A thorough teeth cleaning not only helps improve the health of your teeth, but also makes them look great! A good cleaning can actually have a whitening effect on your smile. Your cleaning will leave you looking and feeling great.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
Don’t miss your biannual visit! Contact our office and schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even with excellent hygiene habits, it's easy to miss small areas of your teeth. Over time, the missed plaque will harden into tartar, which can only be removed with a dental hygienist's tools. When tartar accumulates beneath the gumline, the end result is red, puffy, inflamed gums — the beginnings of periodontal disease.
X-rays are a dentist's most important diagnostic tool. Often, problems start inside your teeth or beneath the gumline. By the time the problem is visible to the naked eye, it can be painful and more difficult to treat. Using x-rays taken on a regular basis, we can catch problems early and treat them quickly and comfortably.
New Patients
Yes. A dentist must conduct a comprehensive oral exam and a full mouth series of X-rays (commonly called an FMX) to determine what type of cleaning is needed. Cleanings are typically not completed on the same day as the exam as cleaning appointments can vary from 30 min - 90 min depending on your needs. We do not know how much time to schedule with the hygienist until you are evaluated by the doctor and a periodontal diagnosis has been made. If you have had a recent FMX within the last year from another provider, you may have them emailed over to our office prior to your appointment.
Established Patients
Yes. A dentist shall conduct a dental examination on a patient within 13 months after a dental hygienist removes the patient’s calculus deposits, accretions, and stains from exposed surfaces of the teeth or from tooth surfaces within the gingival sulcus. X-rays are taken yearly during your exam as part of our team’s commitment to your thorough oral health care.
We recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice daily using good technique. Our skilled dental hygienists will be happy to review your technique with you and give you pointers to help you improve to get the most out of your home-care routine.
Examinations are an important opportunity for us to check in with you, see how you are doing, and make sure that your teeth are healthy. We want to catch problems when they are small and can be treated easily. This allows for more comfortable and less costly dentistry for you. Unfortunately, by the time you are in pain, simple measures are no longer effective. Regular examinations allow us to nip this situation in the bud and keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Amy Iglesias
Dentist
Dr. Iglesias received her Doctorate at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA. Her mission in dentistry is to combine skill, integrity, and empathy to make a meaningful difference in her patient’s lives. One smile at a time. Delivering ethical, gentle dentistry that improves health, confidence, and quality of life. Dr. Iglesias is an active member ...