Teeth Cleaning & Dental Checkups in Peterborough & Bridgenorth

There are many ways you can play an active role in maintaining your oral health. Having your teeth cleaned in our office every three to six months is an excellent place to start. Our hygienists and dentists identify plaque, calculus and problem areas before thoroughly cleaning your teeth, providing you with information to sustain a happy, healthy smile.  Teeth cleaning is a medical procedure performed by specially trained personnel.

Why is it important to have consistent teeth cleanings and checkups?

Routine checkups are an essential part of proper oral hygiene.   Your dental hygiene visit reduces the `bacterial load’ in your mouth.  Some of the benefits of regular teeth cleanings include:

• Healthier bones and gums.
• Fewer bacteria and less toxins,  fewer problems and longer lasting teeth and bone support.
• Early detection and treatment of cancer and other oral health conditions.
• Beautiful, healthy smiles.

What happens when we miss teeth cleanings?

Failure to keep up on proper oral hygiene can lead to:

• Increased numbers of bacteria and the toxins they produce.  Destruction of teeth, undermining of fillings and crowns that may be present, and destruction of the bone that supports your teeth.
• An impaired ability to eat and digest foods, leading to nutritional and systemic problems.
• Bad breath, resulting from advancing periodontal disease and/or rotting food particles.
• Negative effects on cardiovascular well-being and overall health.
• Gum infection and bone reactions (including dissolving of bone),  acid destruction of tooth structure.

What to Expect at Your First Checkup

Our dental cleaning appointments are about an hour-long, and new patient visits typically last a bit longer. We take pride in getting to know each of our patients, tailoring treatments to the health needs and goals of every individual. Here’s what to expect the first time you come to our office:

• Dental History—A hygienist will gather dental and medical histories so that we have a clear picture of your current health, including any medical conditions that can impact dental treatment.

• Digital X-rays—We take digital x-rays based on your current dental health status.  Without  X-Ray images, we cannot diagnose your condition. If you have had x-rays taken within the last 12 months, please have them sent to our office.   Dental x-rays taken at another office within 12 months of your visit with us may be all that we need.  Any additional Dental X-Rays are `ordered’ by the dentist for each individual patient based on each individuals dental health needs.   Dr. Christine Moore decides what, if any, Dental X-rays are to be taken, and the images are taken by our HARP  Qualified Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists.   If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  (HARP: Healing Arts Radiation Protection, licensing body for those taking dental X-Rays)

• Oral Screening and Teeth Exams—After we perform an oral cancer/lesion screening for symptoms of cancer and other illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, we examine your teeth for decay.

• Gum Evaluation and Teeth Cleanings—Our hygienist will evaluate your gums, measuring periodontal pockets with a probe, and clean your teeth by identifying and removing areas of tartar, plaque, and calculus.

• Oral Hygiene Habits—We end your visit by reviewing and reinforcing proper oral hygiene.

Proper Oral Hygiene: How to Prevent Tooth Decay

There are several simple and affordable ways in which you can fight tooth decay—a common chronic health condition.

1. We recommend you brush four times a day, and floss once daily.  Most people benefit by increasing their brushing frequency to four times a day. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and before bed).  Feel free to discuss this with Dr. Christine Moore and her team of hygienist.
2. Have dental cleanings at the frequency that has been customized to your needs by Dr. Christine Moore and her team of hygienists.  This may include dental hygiene cleaning visits at a frequency of every 3 months, or, for those individuals with fewer restorations and lower risks, the frequency may be 4-9 months.  This is customized to your particular needs.  We recommend checkups twice a year for most patients, but again, we customize care to a patients individual needs.
3. Eat fewer sugary and acidic foods.
4. Be sure to use a brand name fluoride toothpaste, which make teeth more resistant to decay.
5. Ask our team about additional cleaning techniques and apparatus that may be helpful.

The Teeth Cleaning Procedure

When you come in for a cleaning, your dental hygienist identifies and removes plaque—a soft film that is teaming with bacteria.  This soft film can be removed by brushing, and you will save on dental costs if you brush your teeth before your dental appointment.  If you have removed the plaque by brushing before your appointment, it will be easier and faster for us to get to the tartar/calculus— hardened plaque that requires dental instruments for removal.     We have specially designed instruments that fit into all surfaces of your teeth, including the tiny spaces between your teeth and along gum-lines where bacteria gather.  The time needed to do this will depend heavily on how well you are removing the plaque at home every day before it hardens to the teeth.  If you are keeping everything nice and clean with your daily cleaning routine, it will take us less time, and will save you money. 🙂

We often complete the cleaning with prophy paste. Its coarse quality, which removes any remaining plaque as it dissolves into a finer texture, leaves the teeth shiny and smooth. We inform you of any areas where plaque and tartar build-up, so you can give those places extra attention by flossing and brushing each day. Our goal is to enable you to easily and effectively care for your teeth, and to help you control the costs of your dental care.

Are there different kinds of teeth cleanings?

Teeth `cleaning’ involves removal of bacteria from around your teeth.  The frequency of `routine’ is determined by your risks of dental disease which includes factors such as past history of dental disease, comparisons of the `periodontal pocket’ depths that we measure, evaluation of your dental/bone anatomy and morphology by means of radiographs, and general health conditions with an example being diabetes.    From your history, and from your risk factors, a `routine’ dental hygiene cleaning appointment length and frequency will be recommended.  As a general rule, the frequency of dental hygiene cleaning will be every three to six months.

The Cost of Teeth Cleaning

A commitment to excellent home care can save you money.   If you are doing a good job daily at home, the time it takes us to thoroughly clean your teeth is reduced because there will be less hardened tartar/calculus for us to clean off.  Proper technique and daily attention to taking care of your teeth at home can save you in dental care costs.

That being said, we are here when you need us!

Often there can be areas that are difficult to reach, and these areas will accumulate `hardened on’ debris that can only be removed with the specially shaped/designed and engineered dental instruments to fit into these areas safely and effectively.   We are here to help.

Most dental insurance policies include benefits that cover teeth cleanings. After all, not maintaining good oral hygiene will most likely lead to astronomical costs down the road, as failure to keep up with teeth cleanings often leads to serious and expensive health problems. Every patient’s budgetary situation is different, so we are happy to discuss yours with you. At a consultation, we present any possible costs up front to help you navigate your insurance benefits. Our main objective is to help you have a successful oral health experience.