Dental Exams & Cleanings in Grafton

Small visits that protect what you already have

Most dental problems start quietly. Tartar hardens along the gumline, a filling edge wears and lets bacteria slip underneath, or a gum pocket deepens a millimeter at a time. None of it hurts at first, which is why it gets missed between visits.

An exam and cleaning every six months gives us a regular look at those slow changes. Catching a small cavity means a small filling instead of a crown. Keeping gums healthy keeps the bone that holds your teeth in place. We have been in practice over 11 years, and the patients whose teeth hold up best are usually the ones who keep coming back for this simple upkeep.

What your exam and cleaning include

Professional cleaning

Our hygienist removes plaque and hardened tartar above and just below the gumline, then polishes and flosses. Tartar cannot be brushed off at home, so this is the part that resets your mouth.

Gum check

We measure the small spaces between your gums and teeth. Shallow, stable readings are good news. Readings that grow over time tell us gum disease may be starting, often before you notice any bleeding.

Exam of teeth and existing work

The dentist checks each tooth for decay, cracks and wear, and looks at the edges of fillings and crowns. Older dental work does not last forever, and spotting a worn margin early can save the tooth underneath.

X-rays when they are due

We take x-rays on a schedule based on your history, not at every visit. They show decay between teeth and below the gumline that cannot be seen in the chair.

Oral cancer screening

A quick look and feel of your tongue, cheeks, throat and jaw is part of every exam. It takes a minute and needs no special equipment.

A plain-language summary

Before you leave, we go over what we found, what can wait, and what should not. If anything needs treatment, you get a clear treatment plan to think over.

Signs it is time to book a checkup

• Gums bleed when you brush or floss

  Bleeding is one of the earliest signs of gum inflammation. A cleaning and a closer look usually turns it around if it is caught early.

• It has been more than a year

  Tartar keeps building whether or not anything hurts. The longer the gap, the more likely a small cavity has had time to grow.

• New sensitivity to cold or sweets

  A tooth that suddenly zings can mean a worn filling, a new cavity or gum recession exposing the root.

• Bad breath that does not go away

  Persistent breath odor often comes from bacteria trapped under the gumline, which a cleaning can reach.

• A filling or crown feels different

  A rough edge, food catching in one spot or a slight change in your bite are worth checking before the tooth beneath is affected.

How your visit goes

1. 1

   Catching up

   We review your health history, medications and any concerns you have. New patients get a fuller first exam so we have a baseline to compare against later.

2. 2

   Cleaning with the hygienist

   Scaling, polishing and flossing, done gently and at your pace. If your teeth are sensitive, tell us and we will slow down or adjust what we use.

3. 3

   Exam with the dentist

   The dentist reviews any x-rays, checks your teeth, gums and existing work, and does the oral cancer screening.

4. 4

   Talking it through

   We explain what we saw and answer your questions. If treatment such as fillings or a crown is recommended, we show you why and let you decide when.

5. 5

   Planning the next visit

   Most patients come back every six months. Some with gum concerns do better with more frequent cleanings, and we will tell you if that applies to you.

What shapes the price of a checkup

Exams and cleanings tend to be the most affordable part of keeping your teeth healthy, and insurance plans usually list them as preventive care. What you pay comes down to a few details we will walk you through before we start. Most dental insurance plans are welcome here. If you have no coverage, our Office Dental Plan is built for you, and the CareCredit Patient Payment Plan is another way to handle costs.

The details of your plan

Plenty of policies pay for two preventive visits each year. Your share depends on how your plan is written, and we can help you make sense of it.

X-rays on this visit or not

A visit with fresh x-rays costs more than one without. We schedule them around your history rather than taking them every time.

How your gums are doing

When tartar sits deep under the gumline, a regular cleaning may not reach it. In that case we may suggest a deeper cleaning done one section of the mouth at a time.

First visit versus a recall

A new patient visit includes a fuller exam and often a complete set of x-rays, so it runs longer than a routine six-month appointment.