The Oklahoma City metro is a great place to have a family. With an abundance of activities and a low cost of living, many families are choosing to make OKC home. When you move to a new city, one of the first things you must do is find new healthcare providers, including a dentist. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends regular cleanings – and for most people, that means every six months.
As a family dental practice in OKC, we understand the importance of maintaining optimal oral health for individuals of all ages. We can serve your whole family. The cornerstone of our practice lies in routine teeth cleaning, essential in preventing and treating oral decay and diseases.
Routine Preventative Dental Care in Oklahoma City
This educational guide explains what happens during routine teeth cleaning at our dental office and sheds light on the meticulous steps that contribute to the well-being of our patients. If you don’t have an Edmond or OKC-area dentist, contact us today to schedule an appointment. We would love to help you!
1. Comprehensive Examination for Tailored Care
Every routine cleaning appointment includes a thorough examination. Our Oklahoma City-based family dental practice prioritizes a comprehensive assessment to lay the groundwork for personalized care. Experienced team members, a dental hygienist and a dentist, will meticulously inspect teeth and gums, searching for any signs of inflammation, bleeding, or abnormalities. X-rays further allow us to examine areas not visible to the naked eye, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of your dental health.
Your initial examination will impact your cleaning procedure as well. Tailoring our approach to address specific concerns ensures that each patient receives individualized care, setting the stage for a practical and precise teeth-cleaning experience.
2. Scaling – Combatting Plaque and Tartar
The next part of routine teeth cleaning involves scaling, a process crucial for combatting the presence of plaque and tartar. Plaque, a soft film of bacteria, can accumulate on teeth surfaces and along the gum line, and if it is left unaddressed, it can evolve into tartar. Specialized instruments are used to scale and delicately eliminate these deposits from the teeth.
Scaling is particularly important in preventing the progression of gum disease and cavities. By meticulously removing these deposits, our dental hygienists contribute to the long-term health of your teeth and safeguard your gums from inflammation and infection. This precise removal of plaque and tartar ensures the longevity of your natural smile.
3. Polishing – Aesthetic Enhancement and Plaque Prevention
Polishing can be done at the beginning or end of the procedure. It is an essential step for the aesthetics of smiles and for preventing future plaque accumulation. Our dental hygienists use a tool similar to a high-powered electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste.
The tool and paste work together to achieve a smooth and clean tooth surface, removing surface stains and deterring plaque from adhering. The gritty texture of the toothpaste helps buff away residual plaque or stains, leaving teeth with a polished finish. This smoother surface also enhances the visual appearance of our patients’ smiles.
4. Interdental Cleaning – Nurturing the Spaces Between Teeth
The next phase in our routine teeth cleaning process focuses on the interdental spaces (the space between your teeth). These spaces are often challenging to reach with conventional brushing alone. Our dental hygienists pay meticulous attention to these areas, employing floss or interdental brushes to clean each tooth delicately. This proactive approach helps prevent cavities and reduces the risk of gum disease.
Interdental cleaning extends beyond the dental office as well. Our hygienists often educate patients on proper flossing techniques, and they may remind you of the importance of incorporating interdental cleaning into your daily oral hygiene routine.
5. Fluoride Treatment – Fortifying Tooth Enamel
As the final step in our routine teeth cleaning process, our practice often recommends a fluoride treatment to strengthen tooth enamel. Fluoride, a mineral that can remineralize enamel, offers enhanced resistance to acid attacks from bacteria in the mouth. This treatment mainly benefits individuals at a higher risk of developing cavities (such as children and teens, older adults, pregnant women, those with high-risk diets, or other conditions that increase risk).
The application of fluoride serves as a simple yet effective strategy to protect teeth against the demineralization process that can lead to tooth decay. For some patients, we even recommend special at-home fluoride treatments.
6. Empowering Through Guidance and Recommendations
In addition to the work of the dentist and hygienist, our family dentistry practice strongly emphasizes education at each routine teeth cleaning appointment. Our dental hygienists serve as invaluable resources throughout the cleaning process, offering personalized advice on brushing and flossing techniques. We hope our tailored guidance extends beyond the dental office and that each Cobblestone Park Family Dental patient feels empowered to participate actively in their ongoing oral health.
When you visit, our providers may ask about dietary choices, lifestyle factors, sleep habits, and other habits that can impact oral health. We believe that oral health affects your holistic health and well-being. We hope you feel more informed and equipped about your dental health each time you leave our office.
We’re Nurturing Smiles for Generations to Come
Routine teeth cleaning at Cobblestone Park Family Dental is not just a series of meticulous steps; instead, it’s a part of our commitment to nurturing smiles for patients of all ages. Each step outlined in this article is important, but your ongoing oral health is the ultimate goal.
We hope that our commitment to providing unparalleled family dental care in Oklahoma City is evident in every visit to our office. Oral health flourishes when you prioritize preventive measures like routine cleanings.
If you are looking for a family dentist in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Piedmont, or the surrounding area, we hope you will contact our team and schedule an appointment today. We look forward to hearing from you and scheduling your first cleaning.