Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleaning

What Happens at a Tooth Cleaning Appointment

A tooth cleaning is a standard dental procedure. It typically includes five or six steps:

1. You’ll be welcomed to the office by our friendly staff. They may make general conversation but also ask if you have any questions or concerns about your oral health.
2. The hygienist will clean your teeth, removing plaque and tartar. If it has been a long time since your last appointment or if you develop tartar quickly, it may take time to remove all the tartar. They may employ an ultrasonic scaler to speed up the task. 
3. The hygienist will polish your teeth. This helps them shine, and the smooth surface makes it harder for bacteria to cling to the teeth. 
4. The hygienist will floss your teeth, then rinse your mouth to remove debris and residue. Once your teeth are clean, our hygienist likes to help you understand any details she noticed about your teeth and the state of your oral hygiene. She may recommend tips and tricks to better clean your teeth for faster and easier future cleanings. 
5. If you are due for dental X-rays, the dental assistant will conduct this step. Bitewing X-rays are the standard, giving us a good view of your teeth. We use digital X-rays that use less radiation than film X-rays and are easier to view and share. 
6. Las Vegas dentist Dr. Polley will talk to you, the hygienist, and the dental assistant about the appointment. He might ask you follow-up questions based on what you said about your oral health or what the hygienist and/or dental assistant observed. Then he will perform a detailed examination of your teeth and gums. Based on what he hears and observes, he may recommend:
   • Additional imaging or tests
   • Additional treatment such as deep cleaning or fillings
   • Changes to your home care routine
   • A visit to a specialist for specialized care

Because Dr. Polley offers a wide variety of dental services at a very high level of expertise, it is rarely necessary to visit another dentist for treatment. However, Dr. Polley will refer you to another dentist if it’s best for your oral health. Ensuring each patient gets the best possible care is his top priority.

Why Teeth Cleaning and Regular Dental Exams are Important for Prevention

Preventive dentistry can help you avoid problems down the line that cause discomfort and need expensive procedures to treat them.

For example, if a small cavity goes untreated, it can destroy your tooth, cause an infection, and even spread to surrounding teeth. A small cavity can lead to multiple extractions if not treated early. Not only will this damage your oral health but also your overall health. The bacteria from the infection can spread from your tooth to your jawbone and sinuses to destroy tissue and even threaten your life. Once your tooth becomes infected with bacteria, a root canal or extraction may be necessary to stop future damage.

With regular dental exams, we can detect and treat small cavities in their early stages so you don’t have to deal with the other possible outcomes. In addition, regular dental cleanings help prevent cavities in the first place. We can also provide you with additional cavity protection by using a product known as CariFree to reduce your risk of cavities.

Regular dental cleanings can also help you avoid gum disease, which threatens not just your teeth but your overall health as well.

Protecting Your General Health with Dental Exams and Teeth Cleaning

Since everything in your body is connected, if your mouth becomes unhealthy, it can affect the rest of your body. Even mild gum disease is a chronic infection that can have profound consequences. In the U.S., gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. It can also increase the risk of stroke, premature death, heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease, and other health concerns.

With regular dental exams and cleanings, you can stop gum disease and other dental problems in their early stages to protect your overall health from problems.

Improving Oral Health and Smile Aesthetics

General dentist Dr. Polley recommends visits to our dental office in Las Vegas for professional hygiene visits and checkups every six months for the best results. Our main goal is to give you the tools to maintain good oral hygiene outside the office with preventive dentistry.

Your regular checkups also benefit your smile’s aesthetics. Once we remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and polish them to remove surface stains, you will see their natural brilliance.