Dental Checkups & Cleanings Mt Pleasant
Preserving & Improving Your Smile
You can’t just depend on brushing and flossing to keep your mouth healthy, even if you wish you could. Without extra help, those habits still leave room for cavities, infections, and other smile issues to occur. The good news is that we at SmileWorks provide dental checkups and cleanings in Mt. Pleasant! Through these semiannual sessions, you can maintain the strength of your teeth and gums. Learn more about them by reading below, or book a consultation in the coming days.
Why Choose Smileworks General & Cosmetic Dentistry for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?
- Several Dentists with Many Years of Experience
- Evening Appointments Available
- Family-Friendly Environment
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
While they may seem tedious, regular dental checkups and cleanings are crucial. They keep your smile safe and healthy, so much so that skipping them causes serious issues.
These visits represent the best possible preventive oral care. During each one, a dentist removes more plaque – the bacterial film that upsets teeth and gums – than you could on your own. That means skipping checkups and cleanings will greatly weaken your grin. Indeed, doing so leads to severe bacterial buildup that causes oral pain, dental emergencies, etc.
At the same time, these frequent sessions save you time and money. A given visit lasts only an hour and enjoys coverage from insurance, meaning it’s highly cost-effective. Going without it, meanwhile, would simply lead to pricey and time-consuming treatments later. Such procedures – ranging from root canals to tooth extractions – are much more involved than regular checkups.
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
A quality dental checkup will always feature certain steps and actions, including:
- An Oral Examination – At the start of a checkup, a hygienist will closely assess your smile’s condition. This examination looks at your teeth, bite, and prior dental work for issues; it also screens you for oral cancer.
- Dental X-Rays – Oral exams typically feature dental X-rays at least once a year. Through these images, the dentist can find otherwise hidden problems with your mouth.
- Medical History Review – Our team updates your medical history at each checkup. By doing so, we can see if past illnesses or medications affect your oral health.
- A Treatment Plan – We’ll draft a customized treatment plan for you if we detect any issues. In fact, our dentists will explain their suggestions to you step by step.
- Some Q&A – At the end of your checkup, you can ask any care-related questions you have.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
Our team will give you a dental cleaning after your checkup, making sure to do the following:
- Plaque Removal – Our hygienist(s) will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth (and along your gums) with specialized instruments.
- Thorough Flossing – Amidst the cleaning, we’ll floss between your teeth and eliminate plaque we might’ve missed earlier.
- Polishing of Teeth – We’ll polish your teeth after the initial cleaning, thus removing any lingering stains. You’ll then have a much brighter smile.
- Fluoride Application – Depending on your case, our hygienist may apply fluoridated gel to your smile. This gel will strengthen your enamel to reduce your risk of cavities.
Checkups & Cleanings FAQs
How long does a standard dental exam usually take?
The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist every 6 months for a routine exam and cleaning, but you might avoid scheduling an appointment if you’re worried it’ll take too much of your day.
Thankfully, basic examinations can be quite brief and take less time the more regularly you attend. For instance, it might take only 10 to 15 minutes for one of our Mt Pleasant providers to visually examine your teeth, gums, and the soft tissues of your mouth for cavities, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. However, it may take longer if it’s been a while since your last visit and there are issues, such as tooth decay or gum disease, that require treatment.
How long does a dental cleaning typically take?
Once your examination is complete, our team will provide a professional cleaning and floss your teeth and gums to help prevent problems and freshen your breath. This portion of your visit typically takes about 30 minutes, though it may take longer if you have more stubborn plaque or tartar buildup.
In severe cases, such as for deep gum cleaning known as scaling and root planing, we may have to schedule a second appointment to complete the procedure.
How often should I get dental X-rays?
There are a few different types of dental X-rays that are taken for different purposes, each with its own unique recommendations for how frequently they should be taken, which are outlined in more detail below:
- Bitewings are usually taken once or twice annually to help identify potential cavities or other issues developing beneath the surface of your gums.
- Periapical X-rays are often taken to help diagnose and treat issues in the roots and might only be required on an as-needed basis.
- Panoramic X-rays might only be taken every 3 to 5 years and are usually used to help identify orthodontic issues or potentially problematic wisdom teeth.
How much do preventive visits cost in Mt Pleasant?
Most patients can expect to spend between $100 and $200 for a standard checkup and cleaning in Mt Pleasant, but the cost can vary significantly based on your circumstances. For example, if you have dental insurance, up to 100% of routine preventive services, like exams, cleanings, and X-rays, might be included, meaning you won’t owe anything out-of-pocket.
However, if our team finds issues that require treatment, you’ll be responsible for the cost of the necessary procedures, which may increase your final invoice. If you’re uninsured or concerned about affording services, you are welcome to apply for a flexible financial payment plan through CareCredit.
