Dental Cleanings

Regular dental cleanings are one of the best ways to combat issues like tooth decay and gum disease. During your visits, we’ll screen for early signs of infection, make recommendations to intercept them, and give you the information that you need to keep your smile healthy for years to come.

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How Often Should You Schedule A Cleaning?

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For patients without gum disease, it’s recommended to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning every six months. If you’re recovering from periodontitis or have teeth susceptible to recurring problems, then we may recommend seeing you every 3-4 months instead.

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What To Expect

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Exam — Checking your teeth and existing dental work on a regular basis allows us to monitor your oral health for any changes between appointments. If issues arise, we can treat them in a minimally invasive manner (that’s also more affordable.)

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Prophylaxis/Cleaning — Preventive cleanings lift away tartar buildup, soft plaque biofilm under the gums, and polish away surface stains. They help keep teeth bright while removing the bacteria that can cause bone loss.

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X-rays — When used periodically, digital X-rays allow us to detect common dental concerns that aren’t visible during your exam. Decay, gum disease, bone loss, cysts or abscessed teeth all need to be evaluated with an X-ray to assess their severity.

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Periodontal Exam — Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss. At least once a year we will screen for signs of gum detachment and bone loss, measuring the pockets around each tooth to assess their attachment levels. If pockets are deep, we’ll recommend a periodontal therapy (deep cleaning/scaling and root planing) appointment.

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Oral Cancer Screening — Screening for oral cancer is the best way to save our patients’ lives. Risk factors like sun exposure, alcohol, viruses (like HPV,) and tobacco use can increase your risk of the disease. Let us know if you have any sores that aren’t healing, lumps/bumps, difficulty swallowing, or patches or red and white tissue that look different than the ones around them.

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Fluoride — Professional strength fluoride can combat sensitivity, remineralize weak tooth enamel, and lower your risk of decay. Depending on your risk factors, we may recommend a fluoride application after each cleaning. Prescriptions are also available if you have xerostomia, a high risk for decay, are undergoing radiation therapy, or currently in braces.

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Sealants — Protective dental sealants block out decay-causing bacteria in the deep grooves of back teeth. We usually recommend sealants on younger children, once their adult molars start to erupt.

Oral Hygiene Instruction — Specific teeth or restorations may need to be cleaned certain ways in order to keep them healthy. Our hygienist will show you modifications or special tools that can be used to make your daily routine easier.

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Health History Review — Changes in your medication, health diagnosis, or nutritional supplements can affect the health of your teeth and gums. Your health history is confidential, so we won’t discuss any of your information outside of this appointment!

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Schedule your dental cleaning in Bozeman today.