Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Mineola, NY
Keep Your Smile Healthy & Strong
You might think you're diligent with oral hygiene. Perhaps you remember to brush twice daily, as well as floss. Even so, brushing and flossing aren’t enough to make your smile as healthy as possible. Without further help, you’ll suffer minor dental issues that grow serious over time. Thankfully, though, you can get a dental checkup in Mineola! This service from Meadowbrook Dental Care will prevent tooth problems from cropping up. To learn more, just keep reading or call our office to book a visit!
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
If your mouth feels fine, it can be tempting to skip routine dental visits. However, going without them is costly in the long run.
For one thing, regular checkups save you time and money. Removing plaque now prevents later cavities and infections that need invasive treatment. As such, they keep you from spending cash on follow-up services like dental crowns or root canals. Plus, two quick checkups a year use less time than very involved surgeries.
Routine visits can also protect your overall health. For example, your mouth stays safe if you get a diagnosis of a small cavity before it shifts into a painful toothache. Similarly, poor oral health is linked to severe ailments — heart disease, diabetes, etc. You should thus get preventive care to reduce your risk for such conditions.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
In general, a dental checkup consists of four major steps:
- Health Updates: To ensure you get quality care, our office will ask you to update us on your medical history and medications. These factors can impact oral health.
- An Oral Exam: At this point, our dentists will visually examine your teeth, dental work, and bite. They’ll also screen you for oral cancer and perhaps take some X-rays.
- A Treatment Plan: If we spot any issues during the oral exam, we’ll draft a treatment plan that can correct the problem.
- A Q&A: Once the treatment plan is settled, the dental team will answer any questions you have about it or at-home oral care.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
Since there are parts of your mouth you can’t clean yourself, a dental checkup is followed by a professional cleaning. This latter service involves the following:
- A Thorough Cleaning: A dental hygienist will use special tools to remove plaque and tartar that cling onto your teeth and along your gumline. In doing so, they’ll reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath.
- Fluoride Treatment: Once the plaque and tartar are gone, we’ll coat your teeth with a highly concentrated fluoride gel. This material will further protect your smile from cavities.
- Polishing: After the cleaning portion of the visit, the hygienist will polish your smile’s enamel. This action will clear away minor surface stains.
- Flossing: Our team will also floss your teeth, removing any remaining plaque or bacteria.