Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Harrisburg, PA
Keep Your Mouth Clean and Healthy
The American Dental Association recommends receiving routine checkups and cleanings from your dentist every six months so they can remove accumulations of plaque from the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and address issues in their early stages. The team at Klein Family Dentistry is trained and equipped to deliver the finest oral healthcare in Harrisburg and its surrounding areas, and we will be more than happy to help you keep your smile in excellent shape. Here’s a quick look at how dental checkups and cleanings work and why you should schedule your next routine appointment at our office.
Why Choose Klein Family Dentistry for Dental Checkups and Cleanings?
- Skilled and Experienced Dental Team
- Prevent Painful Oral Infections
- Maintain a Lovely Smile
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
While you may be tempted to forgo your routine dental appointments if your mouth feels okay, neglecting to receive your biannual checkups can lead to costly oral health problems in the long run. These sessions allow our team to monitor your oral health, thoroughly clean your mouth, address problems before they become too destructive, and advise you as to better oral hygiene habits. This can allow patients to avoid painful dental emergencies such as toothaches and tooth loss. Poor oral health is associated with serious overall health issues like heart disease and diabetes, and receiving regular dental checkups and cleanings may save you thousands of dollars by making costly restorative treatments unnecessary.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
During your dental checkup, our dentist will carefully examine your teeth, gums, bite alignment, and existing dental restorations and screen your soft tissues for signs of oral cancer. If we detect any issues, we will develop a customized treatment plan designed to restore your oral health, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about caring for your teeth. We’ll probably take X-rays once a year, and we’ll also review and update your medical history and list of medications.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
During your dental cleaning, we will carefully remove accumulations of plaque and food debris from areas of your mouth that are impossible to clean at home. This will reduce your risk of oral health issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and persistent bad breath (halitosis). We’ll also polish your teeth to remove minor surface stains and carefully clean between them with floss and specialized tools as well. We may also recommend fluoride treatment after your teeth have been cleaned.
Checkups & Cleanings FAQs
What Factors Can Lengthen My Dental Appointment?
The average dental checkup (and cleaning) takes an hour to an hour and a half. Still, factors unique to your situation can lengthen or shorten that time.
For instance, the checkup will likely run longer if you’re a new patient. You’ll spend more of the visit outlining your medical history in that scenario, thus ensuring the dentist can do a good job. The visit may also take more time to check your smile’s health, especially if you don’t provide prior dental records.
A dental checkup will also become lengthy if it detects oral health issues. If the dentist finds a problem, they’ll need to specify potential treatment options they’d otherwise skip.
Do Dental Hygienists Do Professional Teeth Cleanings?
As a matter of fact, yes – dental hygienists typically do routine teeth cleanings. These sessions not only remove plaque from your smile but also polish your teeth to ensure they look bright and healthy.
Dental hygienists receive great training to perform these quality cleanings. Indeed, they have the knowledge and resources to take dental X-rays, apply fluoride and sealants, and conduct oral exams. This background helps hygienists know what to look for when caring for your smile.
A hygienist’s cleaning efforts don’t just extend to the work itself, either. They also educate patients on how to improve their home oral care routines, which can maintain their healthy grins.
How Often Should I Receive Oral Cancer Screenings?
Your dentist (or dental hygienist) conducts an oral cancer screening at each dental checkup. Therefore, you should receive once at least twice yearly.
Rest assured that these screenings don’t take much time. They only last a couple of minutes at most, quickly identifying potential abnormalities in your throat and oral cavity. They can thus ensure you receive follow-up care (or testing) without eating into your schedule.
As for what each screening involves, that’s simple. The dentist will start by checking the outside of your face – including the neck and jaw – for lumps or bumps. They’ll then feel the inside of the lips and look in your mouth for red and white rough patches or oral sores. If the dentist finds a sign of oral cancer, they’ll refer you to a specialist for a biopsy or further testing.
What Should I Expect If I Haven’t Been to the Dentist in Years?
It’s all too easy to skip dental visits for years, whether due to anxiety, insurance issues, or scheduling problems. As such, dentists follow a set protocol for patients who haven’t had care recently.
One thing to expect is a longer-than-usual exam and cleaning. When you haven’t seen a dentist in years, the dental team will have to spend more time identifying and removing plaque and tartar. The checkup won’t help otherwise; it’ll let harmful microbes gather, spread, and cause more issues instead.