Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Chardon, OH
Making & Keeping Your Smile Safe
Even if your smile feels (and looks) fine for now, that could change sooner than you’d think. You might develop cavities, gum disease, and worse in mere weeks, at least without the proper professional help. Still, there’s good news – our office can provide you with dental checkups and cleanings in Chardon. These regular visits to Drs. Phillips and Titus would help your grin become (or remain) truly healthy. With that said, learn more by reading below or book a consultation soon.
Why Choose Chardon Smile Center for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?
- Dentists with Decades of Experience
- Advanced Dental Detection Technology
- In-Network with Many Dental Insurance Providers
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
While dental checkups and cleanings may seem tedious, they’re crucial to your oral health. Going without them would cost you (and your smile) in the long run.
These visits are the best form of preventive oral care by far. Indeed, each one thoroughly removes your grin’s plaque – the bacterial film that causes cavities, gum disease, etc. Skipping your checkups and cleanings would thus cause your smile to weaken over time. Doing so would lead to a build-up of harmful bacteria, putting you at greater risk of oral pain, dental emergencies, and more.
Furthermore, checkups and cleanings save you time and money. They’re the most cost-effective option because each only lasts an hour and is covered by most dental plans. Meanwhile, refusing them will just lead to expensive and lengthy procedures later – root canals, tooth extractions, etc. These other options would eat more into your budget and schedule.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
Should you see us for a checkup, please expect the following:
- An Oral Exam – At the start of your checkup, your dentist in Chardon (or a hygienist) will perform an oral exam on your smile. This step lets us assess your teeth, bite, and prior dental work for issues; we’ll also screen you for oral cancer.
- Dental X-Rays – Our dental checkups take dental X-Rays of your smile once a year. As for why, the reason is simple: X-rays help us find any hidden problems in your mouth.
- Medical History Review – At any given checkup, our team will take time to update your patient history. We’ll then know whether your medications affect your oral health.
- A Treatment Plan(s) – If a checkup spots an issue, we’ll draft a custom treatment plan for you. We’ll then explain our suggestions to you step by step.
- Some Q&A – To wrap up your checkup, we’ll let you ask a few care-related questions.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
After a checkup, we’ll always (and thoroughly) clean your smile. This process involves the following:
- Removal of Plaque – Using specialized instruments, our hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar between your teeth (and along your gums).
- Effective Flossing – We’ll floss between your teeth during the cleaning, thus removing plaque we may have missed earlier.
- Teeth Polishing – Once we’ve finished the initial cleaning, we’ll polish your teeth to remove minor stains. You’ll then have a brighter smile than before!
- Fluoride Application – Depending on the situation, our hygienist may apply fluoridated gel to your smile. This gel will strengthen your enamel and protect it from decay and cavities.
Checkups & Cleanings FAQs
How Long Does a Dental Exam Take?
A regular dental exam typically involves our dentist visually inspecting your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues for signs of infection, decay, and cancer. He’ll also take care to check for issues with your bite alignment and answer any questions you have about oral care. Our dentist will also be sure to inspect existing dental work such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures, so please remember to bring any removable appliances with you. The exam portion of a routine dental checkup at Chardon Smile Center usually takes ten to fifteen minutes, but the actual timeframe can vary from patient to patient.
How Long Does a Regular Dental Cleaning Take?
A patient who visits our office every six months for checkups and is free from gum disease will probably only need a regular dental cleaning that usually takes about thirty minutes. However, patients with gum disease or severe plaque accumulations may require deep cleanings that take more time than this, and those with advanced infections may need to be scheduled for additional treatments such as scaling and root planing. To help ensure that your dental cleaning is as easy and comfortable as possible, please remember to thoroughly brush and floss before your appointment at our Chardon office.
How Often Do I Need to Get Dental X-rays?
Dental X-rays typically take only a few minutes and are usually completed every six months during routine checkups. However, the type of X-ray you need will depend on how long it has been since you last received one as well as factors like your age, oral health history, genetics, and existing health conditions. The three types of dental X-rays include:
- Bitewings: These are used to detect cavities.
- Periapical: These serve to allow us to view the dental roots and jawbones so we can detect issues and plan treatments like dental implant placement.
- Panoramic: These are taken every three to five years so we can maintain a record of how your teeth are developing and check for issues like misalignments and problems with the wisdom teeth.
We may also recommend taking X-rays based on the concerns you raise during your checkup. For example, we may need to perform a periapical X-ray to determine the source of jaw pain.
Why Do Dentists Recommend Fluoride Treatment After Dental Cleanings?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has the remarkable ability to prevent tooth decay and reinforce dental enamel, so it can be a great way to reduce the likelihood of oral infections, injuries, and tooth sensitivity. Fluoride treatment takes only a few minutes and involves our dentist applying a coating of gel or foam to the teeth. You will need to refrain from eating or drinking for about an hour after receiving fluoride treatment.