Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Dallas, TX
Protect Your Smile from Germs and Erosion
While it may seem tempting to avoid visiting your dentist until you have a painful oral health problem, this can allow unseen infections to fester and lead to serious oral health issues with considerable long-term consequences like chronic pain or tooth loss. Thankfully, receiving regular checkups and cleanings at our Dallas dental office can help prevent miserable oral health conditions and keep your smile clean and shiny. Here’s a quick look at how dental checkups and cleanings work at Woodhill Family Dental.
Why Choose Woodhill Family Dental for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?
- Skilled and Compassionate Dental Team
- Gentle and Thorough Cleaning Treatments
- Dental Insurance Welcomed
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
Dental cleanings serve to remove infectious accumulations such as plaque, tartar, and food debris from the teeth and gums, and this helps prevent a plethora of nasty and painful oral health issues like gum disease, cavities, and abscesses. Avoiding these problems will save you from not only the suffering they can inflict but also the expense of treating them. Dental insurance plans typically cover routine dental care like checkups and cleanings completely, so these appointments can save you vast sums of money in the long run.
Poor oral health is also connected to a wide range of overall health issues like heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, and low self-esteem. Regular dental appointments can help you stay healthy, confident, and happy so you can enjoy a better quality of life.
What to Expect During Your Dental Checkup
During your dental checkup, the team at Woodhill Family Dental will carefully inspect your teeth, gum tissue, existing dental work, and bite alignment for signs of trouble and screen the inside of your mouth for symptoms of oral cancer. Your appointment will probably also include X-rays so we can check for problems inside your oral structures. Our dentist will also answer any questions you have about your treatment and your at-home oral hygiene habits, and we’ll review your medical history and list of medications and update them as necessary. If we detect any problems, we’ll be happy to schedule you for an appropriate restorative treatment.
What to Expect During Your Dental Cleaning
Even if you brush and floss every day, there are parts of your mouth that are impossible for you to clean without the help of a qualified dental health professional. During your cleaning, our hygienist will use specialized instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums before polishing your teeth to eliminate minor surface stains. We’ll also be sure to floss your smile before sending you on your way.
Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings FAQs
What does my dentist screen for at routine checkups?
The examination portion is usually only a few minutes, but your dentist covers a lot of ground during that time! In addition to completing an oral cancer screening, they take a look at your teeth, your gums, and any existing dental work. If they notice anything concerning, they will bring it to your attention, share how they recommend proceeding, and answer any questions you have.
How much does a dental cleaning cost without insurance?
As you may already know, many dental insurance providers cover 100% of the cost of essential preventive care, including routine checkups and cleanings. But what if you are uninsured at the moment? If that’s the case, the best thing to do is to get in touch with a member of our team at Woodhill Family Dental. Once they know a little more about your dental needs, including if we need to take X-rays, they can provide you with an estimate of the cost.
What should I do if I need a dental cleaning but I’m too afraid to go to the dentist?
Dental anxiety is more common than you may think. The good news is that our kind, experienced, and non-judgmental team can help. So, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our incredible general dentists in Woodhill. From there, they can determine what needs to be done to give you the calm and comfortable experience that you deserve. For some, it’s walking them through the treatment process. For others, it’s adding nitrous oxide to their visit to melt away anxiety, nerves, and stress.
Is it okay to only visit the dentist once a year?
Although once a year is better than not going at all, patients are encouraged to visit their dental team every six months. This is important for several reasons, starting with the fact that biannual exams catch tooth decay, gum disease, and other common oral health problems in the early stages. Additionally, we use these appointments to remove plaque buildup, which helps keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Why do dentists recommend fluoride treatment after dental cleanings?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has several benefits, from strengthening enamel to preventing dental sensitivity. If you are prone to decay, then your dental hygienist will likely recommend a fluoride treatment following your cleaning. The good news is that it’s completely painless and only takes a few minutes!
How often do I need to get dental X-rays?
The answer depends on the type of X-rays in question! Typically, bitewing X-rays are taken each year to detect decay. Panoramic X-rays, on the other hand, are usually taken every 3-5 years to monitor developmental issues, like if your wisdom teeth are growing in sideways.