More than a Cleaning

We’ve all said it before: “I’m just here for my cleaning.”  But did you know how much more is being done by your hygienist at your appointment? Dental hygienists are college educated preventive dental providers – who spend more time with you one-on-one than most other healthcare providers in the year!

Your visit begins with your hygienist reviewing your medical history and any medications you take. Did you know there are many medications that can impact your oral health directly? That is why it is so important to accurately document any medications or supplements you may be taking.

Next, your hygienist will update any necessary radiographs you may need. Our office has digital x-ray sensors as well as a digital panoramic machine and the ability to take dental CT scans if necessary!

Then your full exam begins. Your dental hygienist begins with what is called an extra-oral (outside mouth) evaluation. We check your TMJ for any issues and feel along your neck and chin to check your lymph nodes and salivary glands.

Once inside your mouth we complete an intra-oral (inside mouth) exam.  This also includes your oral cancer screening. We check all the hard and soft tissues in your mouth including your gums, cheeks, lips and your tongue.

Now we will check your periodontium! That’s a fancy way of saying we check your gum and bone levels. We use an instrument called a probe that looks like a small ruler to measure the “pockets” around your teeth. This helps us determine what kind of hygiene treatment you need. We also measure if there is any recession – that is, if the gums have moved down the tooth.

Once we have all this data, we can begin with the appropriate dental hygiene treatment that fits your needs!