Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head SC
Dental cleanings or prophylaxis are professional treatments that thoroughly clean and remove tartar and plaque buildup from your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends patients of all ages receive a dental cleaning once every six months to help prevent gum disease and cavities. Chris Mohler, DDS, a family dentist in Beaufort, is a comfortable dental practice that offers prophylaxis for patients of every age. Find out how routine dental cleanings help you maintain good oral health for life.
Benefits of Dental Cleanings
Everyone experiences plaque and tartar buildup. While daily teeth brushing and flossing help reduce buildup, it still occurs due to the natural oral bacteria and saliva that our mouths produce daily. Skipping these twice-yearly dental cleanings helps you maintain good oral health.
Additional benefits of routine dental cleanings include:
- Fresher breath
- Fewer dental stains
- Less risk of cavities
- Less risk of gum disease
- Improved oral health
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
At Chris Mohler, DDS, we strive to provide comfortable, effective care for patients of all ages, which starts with prevention. A dental cleaning appointment begins with a thorough exam of your oral health as the hygienist checks each tooth for signs of damage or decay, documenting her findings for Dr. Mohler to assess. Gum health and pocket depth are also checked to determine your risk of gum disease.
During your cleaning, the dental hygienist uses special scalers to gently remove stuck-on tartar from your teeth and gum line. This process should not be uncomfortable and may take between 30-45 minutes to complete.
Next, the hygienist carefully flosses between all of your teeth, removing any lingering particles that were dislodged during your cleaning.
The final step is a thorough coronal polishing to remove teeth stains and smooth the surface of your teeth, making it difficult for tartar and plaque buildup to form again.
Once your dental cleaning is complete, Dr. Mohler will come in to greet you and thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. Any findings will be discussed with you, allowing an opportunity for you to ask questions about your oral health or proposed treatment plan.
What happens next?
If you receive a good bill of oral health and there are no dental concerns that require treatment, we will gladly schedule your next dental cleaning. However, if you require additional treatments for care, our courteous team member at the front will schedule you for a return visit. If you have any questions about your out-of-pocket costs or what your dental insurance plan will cover, please discuss these questions with us before your next appointment.
Why Dental Cleanings Are Important
Many patients are under the impression that there is no need to visit the dentist twice a year as long as they brush and floss their teeth daily. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. The purpose of six-month dental checkups and cleanings is to identify potential dental issues like cavities, gum disease, damage to existing dental work, and other problems that could worsen without treatment. Additionally, tartar buildup occurs on everyone’s teeth, even dentists! Therefore, dental cleanings are necessary to maintain good oral health.
General Dentist in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head
We invite you to our practice and would like to be a part of your oral health journey. If you would like to learn more about professional dental cleanings or to schedule an appointment, please contact Chris Mohler, DDS, by calling (843) 522-1442 or complete our Contact Form.