Dental cleaning and exam
During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and check for cavities and gum disease. The exam includes evaluating your risk of developing other oral problems and checking your face, neck and mouth for abnormalities
Regular dental exams incorporating professional teeth cleaning are the keystone of preventive dentistry and its focus on minimizing or avoiding oral health issues.
Routine check-ups and cleanings play a crucial role in helping to keep your teeth and gums healthy. A healthy mouth can also help to protect the rest of your body from serious medical disorders.
During a cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist scrapes plaque and tartar from your teeth. In an exam, the dentist will carefully look at your teeth, mouth and throat to identify any problems, such as cavities, gum disease, loose fillings and oral cancer.
An overview of your mouth and gums will be followed by an oral cancer screening, then a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth.
A dental exam should take about 45 minutes, unless there are other factors (such as the need for a deep cleaning) that must be addressed. “Regular dental care is the best way to make sure that your mouth remains healthy,”
Teeth scaling and root planing can cause some discomfort, so you'll receive a topical or local anesthetic to numb your gums. You can expect some sensitivity after your treatment. Your gums might swell, and you might have minor bleeding, too.
