dental cleaning and exam

At Stauffer Dentistry Clinic in Westerville, Ohio, we specialize in comprehensive dental exams and cleaning services for patients of all ages. We've got you covered, from kids' dental exams to adults' deep-cleaning teeth services. Our experienced team ensures a thorough dental cleaning and exam to keep your smile healthy and bright. Don't wait - schedule your dental exam and cleaning today to maintain optimal oral health. Call us at 614-882-2249 or complete our website form to book your dentist appointment online now!

Is Every Dental Cleaning the same?

Every patient who walks into Stauffer Family Dental in Westerville, OH is unique and so are your dental needs. At each dental exam, we will asses the overall health of your gums and bone around the teeth. This helps us determine what type of cleaning you will need. Patients with healthy gum and bone around the teeth only need a routine dental cleaning and dental exam every 6 months. When patients have been diagnosed with gum disease, they often need a deeper cleaning. After the deep cleaning, they will have a different type of cleaning called periodontal maintenance and come in to see us more frequently. Lastly, if the gums are showing signs of inflammation or the patient has braces, they may have a routine dental cleaning but have this more frequently, possibly every 3-4 months instead of every 6.

Routine Cleaning

At a routine dental cleaning at Stauffer Family Dental in Westervile, OH we will use an ultrasonic cleaner and dental instruments to clean the teeth. The ultrasonic cleaner, cavitron, uses vibrations to clear away plaque and tartar buildup. We also floss to remove any debris from between the teeth. Lastly, we polish the teeth which helps smooth the teeth and remove staining. This is usually recommended every 6 months

More Frequent Cleanings

Sometimes, patients will need a routine cleaning more frequently than 6 months. These patients will still only have a dental exam with Dr. Heidi Stauffer every 6 months but they will see one of our hygienists for an extra cleaning. Patients who tend to build up a lot of tartar but do not have gum disease or have the beginning stages of gum disease. Also, patients who have food traps or braces which make cleaning at home harder often fall into this category

Deep Cleaning

As part of your routine dental exam with Dr. Heidi Stauffer, we assess the health of the bone and gums around the teeth. If we are seeing bone loss and gum disease, we will want to do a deeper cleaning. This is also called scaling and root planing. This is where we clean not only the top part of the tooth but also clean and smooth the root surface also. Because the root surface is more sensitive, patients are often numbed for this procedure. This is the first step in treating gum disease.

Periodontal Maintenance

After a deep cleaning, we see patients every 3 months until their gum health is fully restored. It is a more extensive cleaning because we are still cleaning that root surface again because of the bone loss that accompanies gum disease. The cleaning may seem very similar to a routine cleaning but we are cleaning more surface aread of each tooth and we are doing this cleaning every 3-4 months.

Who will perform my dental cleaninG?

At Stauffer Family Dental in Westerville, OH, we have three amazing hygienists. Kim, Lauren and Jennelle will be the faces that you see at your dental cleaning. You often will see the same hygienist and we will try our best to honor requests. But all three do are thorough and gentle, so do not worry if you are seeing someone different! Dr. Heidi will do your exam every time because we only have one dentists at our office. If you need treatment, you might meet our Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary, Tiffany, who assists Dr. Heidi.

How often should I come in for a dental cleaning and exam?

We assess this at every visit as part of your dental exam. If we find you need cleanings more or less frequently, we will change our recommendation. Many patients can go up to 6 months between cleanings and have 2 cleanings per year. However, some patients due to gum disease, inflammation, or buildup of plaque and tartar need to be seen more frequently. Sometimes we recommend seeing patients every 3-4 months which would be 3-4 dental cleanings per year.

What to expect at a dental cleaning?

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How common is gum disease?

Gum disease is fairly common, the CDC reports it affects 46% of all adults over the age of 30. This percentage also increases with age. This is why dental cleanings and exams are so important. Also, the inflammation from gum disease can contribute to systemic problems like heart disease. This makes these frequent exams even more important.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease also known as periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the bone and gums around the teeth. The CDC reports that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Risk factors for gum disease include smoking and diabetes. Mild gum disease can be treated with a deeper cleaning and more frequent cleanings. Sometimes more advanced gum disease will require a referral to a specialist called a periodontist for further treatment.

The difference of a dental cleaning and exam at stauffer family dental in westerville, OH

At Stauffer Family Dental in Westerville, Ohio, we specialize in comprehensive dental exams and cleaning services for patients of all ages. We've got you covered, from kids' dental exams to adults' deep-cleaning teeth services. Our experienced team ensures a thorough dental cleaning and exam to keep your smile healthy and bright. Don't wait - schedule your dental exam and cleaning today to maintain optimal oral health. Call us at 614-882-2249 or complete our website form to book your appointment now!