Preventive Care

Sciota, Pennsylvania

Preventive care is an essential building block of good oral health. It not only helps reduce your risk of oral diseases like gum disease and cavities, but it allows the dentist an opportunity to discover problems in their earliest stages before they worsen and lead to more extensive and expensive treatments. You probably make certain lifestyle choices regarding your health to prevent diseases and illnesses. Your mouth should be treated with the same respect. At Chestnuthill Dental, we support the American Dental Association’s recommendation that everyone should brush their teeth twice a day, floss daily, and see their dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. Take a look at the preventive care that we offer at Chestnuthill Dental.

Dental Cleanings

Professional dental cleanings are necessary to remove stuck-on tartar buildup from your teeth. Everyone gets tartar buildup, even dentists! But if you practice good oral hygiene like daily brushing and flossing, you can better control tartar buildup, and your cleanings will be a breeze.

However, neglecting your oral health results in tartar buildup that can lead to bad breath, swollen and tender gums that bleed easily, and cavities. The problem with tartar is that it harbors harmful oral bacteria that secret acids in your mouth. If not removed, the bacteria slowly damage your oral health. This damage can take place over the course of many years, but once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed.

Book an Appointment

Visit Chestnuthill Dental for personalized and advanced dental care. Our experienced professionals use state-of-the-art technology in a comfortable environment. Contact us to book your appointment and achieve your best oral health.

What’s involved in a dental cleaning?

Getting your teeth cleaned can be an easy, simple process. We schedule the appointment for about an hour, and once it’s over, you can resume your usual routine. After you check in at the front, one of our friendly dental hygienists will call you back and have you sit to relax in a comfortable chair. The hygienist will review your health history and ask a few questions about your oral health and whether you’re experiencing any problems. If you are a new patient or it’s been more than one year since you last had dental x-rays, we will take x-rays to see structures between your teeth and below the gums.

Then, the hygienist examines your teeth and gums, notating any areas of concern. The actual dental cleaning begins as the hygienist gently scrapes your teeth to remove tartar buildup around each tooth until all teeth are clean. Then, the hygienist will floss your teeth and polish the enamel with a special, mildly abrasive dental paste. The final step in the dental cleaning appointment is to meet with the dentist for one last check of your oral health.

If you receive a clean bill of health, we won’t plan to see you for six months at your next dental cleaning. However, if any dental concerns need to be addressed with treatment, we can schedule your next appointment at the office before you leave.

What happens if I skip dental cleanings?

We do not recommend skipping dental cleanings. The reason is that tartar buildup can cause significant damage to your teeth over time, which leads to costly repairs. Most dental insurance plans cover most or all of the cost of dental cleanings. Therefore, if you have dental insurance, you’ll likely be out of pocket very little, if any, when getting your teeth cleaned. And even if you don’t have insurance, it’s worth the cost of investing in your smile with preventive care rather than waiting to pay for expensive dental care to
fix issues that could have been stopped.

I haven’t been to the dentist in years, and my teeth don’t hurt. Is a cleaning still necessary?

Yes! The fact that you haven’t been to the dentist in years is even more reason to receive a professional dental cleaning. Your teeth may not be bothering you, but there could still be some issues going on that you do not see that could lead to tooth loss if not caught early. We urge you to see the dentist as soon as possible, even if it’s been years since your last visit. We are dedicated to helping patients, and there is no judgment at our office. Our goal is to help you achieve a healthy smile.

Should kids get their teeth cleaned?

Kids should definitely receive dental cleanings just like adults. Maintaining good oral health is essential for children so that they can develop proper speech patterns, eat a healthy diet, and feel accepted by their peers. Even though kids eventually lose their baby teeth, those teeth still need daily care and twice-yearly cleanings.

Other preventive services at Chestnuthill Dental include sealants, which are most commonly placed on the chewing surface of the bottom back teeth in children. Sealants are temporary coverings that seal out bacteria in these hard-to-reach areas that children often miss when brushing. Sealants are painless and quick to receive as an in-office preventive treatment. They may last up to a decade, but by then, your child will be old enough to know how to brush their teeth thoroughly.

Preventive Dental Care for Families in Sciota, Pennsylvania

If you would like more information about preventive dental care or to schedule an appointment, please contact Chestnuthill Dental by calling (570) 402-4001.