Dental Cleanings and Checkups

Dental Cleaning & Examinations in Idaho Falls

We want to keep you and your smile as healthy and happy as possible! Routinely having your teeth cleaned by a trained professional is an important aspect of making this happen! We pride ourselves in our excellent hygienists and other dental care staff that help make these routine cleanings a great experience.

A specialized dental professional is responsible for this part of a dental examination and will answer any questions someone might have, help address their oral health concerns, and provide guidance on how they can keep their smile in the best shape possible. To schedule your dental cleaning, contact the best dentists in Idaho Falls today at (208) 525-4780 today.

What to Expect at your Dental Cleaning and Checkup

Examination & Checkup

At the beginning of every checkup appointment is the overall examination of your oral health including teeth and gum health. Fairly quickly a trained professional can assess the health of your teeth. One of the benefits to forming a long-term relationship with your dentist and your dental care providers is that they can track your oral health over time. If you are coming in every 6 months it is easy to identify potential problems and create custom care plans to help!

Plaque Removal

Depending on how diligent someone has been in their own dental care, some plaque will build up over time. An important part of a dental cleaning is removing these build up deposits. This is a vital component of every dental checkup and cleaning at Sandcreek Dental.

Cleaning

After the dental professional has removed, they will use a gritty toothpaste and electric brush to smooth and polish the teeth. The brush may be noisy, but the brushing itself is unlikely to cause discomfort. The toothpaste has a gritty substance to help get rid of any leftover plaque that the scaling might have missed, and the paste itself will polish the teeth to protect them from the buildup of bacteria between checkups.

Flossing

Flossing should be part of everyone’s regular at-home oral care routine. For people who do not floss regularly, there may be some discomfort during this part of the dental cleaning. The dental professional will use a thin piece of floss and glide it between each tooth to remove any plaque that might be present. They will likely ask how often the patient flosses and offer some suggestions for at-home care.

Tooth Polishing

Tooth polishing is an important dental procedure that we recommend pairing with the cleaning and other components of a routine dental checkup. The dental hygienist usually uses a small, soft rubber cup and polishing paste. A jet of pressurized air and water mixed with an abrasive agent or paste. The agent is the gritty feeling substance used during the process.

Fluoride Application

Another important component of routine dental care checkups is fluoride application or treatments. Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities. It’s been widely used in oral health treatments for decades. Fluoride supports healthy tooth enamel and fights the bacteria that harm teeth and gums.

Dentist Assessment & Treatment Plan

Dentist Evaluation

After our amazing hygienists have evaluated and cleaned your teeth, Dr. Darrington will come in and review your oral health. This provides a second opinion on the current status of teeth, gums and other aspects of your overall condition. During this process, any areas of concerned are identified. The dental care team consults together and identifies care plan items as needed.

Custom Dental Care Plan Creation

It is common for people to come and visit the dentist and have a variety of things needed to help improve the overall health of the patient. This care plan can consist of things as simple as making tooth brush recommendations or more in-depth plans consisting of various dental procedures.

Treatments as Needed

At Sandcreek Dental we want what is going to be best for you. There are times that you will come in and there will be no additional visit needed. There are other times, when there will be certain additional procedures that are needed like cavity fillings, crowns, whitenings, etc. We will help you understand what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and try and help you understand the potential financial responsibilities associated with those care plans and procedures.

The Power of the Dentist’s Fluoride and Equipment

At the end of the dental cleaning, the patient will likely be asked to rinse with a special fluoride mouthwash. Mouthwash that contains fluoride is a useful addition to any oral hygiene routine. If the dentist recommends this fluoride treatment in the office and at home, it helps protect the teeth against the development of tooth decay. Like the scaler, toothpaste, and electric brush used during the cleaning, this treatment is extra powerful, but not harmful.

Cleaning Sensitive Teeth

As long as they have followed the recommended at-home oral care guidelines, most people do not have issues with sensitive teeth. But if they do, they should let the dental professional know at the start of the appointment. If they are aware of the sensitivity, they can recommend ways to reduce the discomfort before, during, and after the cleaning. During the cleaning, they may check for areas of sensitivity to see if any issues should be addressed. They may also have additional recommendations for home care to make the next visit more comfortable.

The Difference Between a Dental Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

A dental cleaning is a regular, routine cleaning that should be scheduled every six months to keep the mouth healthy and clear of harmful plaque. A deep cleaning, however, may be necessary for those who have not had a normal dental cleaning in some time. Deep cleaning is recommended when there are bacteria or tartar in pockets between the teeth and gums. These bacteria could lead to gum disease and, if not addressed, tooth loss.

Deep cleaning is also called scaling and root planing. While scaling removes buildup from around the gums, root planning goes deeper. During root planing, the dental professional will remove buildup from the surface of the tooth roots. It may take multiple deep cleanings over time to be completely successful.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dental cleaning?

A dental cleaning is a routine dental appointment where a dental professional will assess oral health and clean the teeth. During this cleaning, they will remove the buildup of bacteria, or plaque, and polish the teeth to protect them until the next cleaning. This appointment is typically quick and simple for those who maintain regular appointments and follow an at-home oral care routine.

Why are dental cleanings important?

Dental cleanings provide an opportunity for your teeth, gums and mouth to receive professional care. These are skilled individuals with an impressive understandings. This routine cleaning allows them to use this knowledge and expertise to help keep your mouth cleaner and healthier. This also provides you to receive unique dental care that you don’t often perform at home like polishing and fluoride application.

Why are dental checkups important?

Often when we do things like have our cars repaired it only happens after there is an issue that has occurred. Something has stopped working or is broken. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you brought your car in routinely to have potential problems identified and addressed preventatively? This wouldn’t prevent problems altogether but it would likely be able to catch and mitigate issues sooner. That is essentially what routine dental care and checkups can provide for you. Dental checkups provide access to a trained professional to review the health of your teeth, gums and mouth. There could be warnings signs of a variety of other issues you may be previously unaware of that dental professionals can identify and treat.

What is dental scaling?

Dental scaling is part of a routine dental cleaning. As the dental professional cleans the teeth, they will use a specialized dental tool that looks like a small metal hook to remove plaque and buildup from the surface of the teeth. This process is referred to as scaling.

What if it has been a long time since someone has had routine dental care?

The consequences for not receiving routine dental care varies greatly from one person to another. This can vary depending on the quality of their personal care at home, diet, lifestyle choices, genetics and many other factors. In most cases, plaque and tartar build up over time and can be extremely damaging to the teeth and the overall health of the individual.

People who find themselves in this situation, often express that they feel too embarrassed to come in and receive the care they need. At Sandcreek Dental, we are just excited that you are trying to make positive choices in your life to improve your health. Even if it has been a while since your last dental appointment, we want you to come see us!

What should someone do in a dental emergency?

If anyone experiences a dental emergency, they should immediately contact our dental team. Dental emergencies include things such as knocking out a tooth or experiencing dental trauma. The more quickly our team can assess and address the emergency, the better. Always remember that medical emergencies should be handled by a medical professional. If someone is experiencing a medical emergency, they should call 911.

What should people do in between dental cleanings?

To maintain good oral health between professional cleanings, patients are advised to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash daily. Our team may advise you to take additional steps depending on your oral health situation. Also, your dentist may recommend avoiding smoking or any other activity known to be harmful to oral health.

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About Us

Sandcreek Dental is a Family-Friendly Dentist Providing Personal Care since 1998 committed to providing quality dental care to families located in Idaho Falls, Ammon and the surrounding areas.

Contact

2460 E 25th St.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404

(208) 525-4780

Hours

Mon-Thurs:
8am-5pm
Fri:
8am-1pm