Dental Exams and Cleanings in Ashland

Why Regular Checkups Matter

Plaque left on teeth turns into tartar within days. A brush won't take tartar off, and it keeps the gums inflamed. A professional cleaning clears it away before it leads to gum disease. The exam spots things like a starting cavity or a cracked filling early, when the fix is smaller and costs less.

Over 11 years in practice, we've found that most checkups turn up little or nothing. When that's the case, you'll hear it. When it isn't, we point it out on the X-ray or an intraoral photo and tell you honestly what waiting would mean.

Twice a year suits most adults. Patients with gum trouble often need shorter gaps between visits. We'll let you know where you fit and the reason behind it.

Inside a Routine Visit

Tartar removal, including just under the gums

Hand instruments or an ultrasonic scaler loosen the hard deposits, and a polish finishes the job. That reaches the gaps between teeth and the edge under the gum where floss rarely gets.

Pocket depth checks

A small probe measures the space where each tooth meets the gum. Shallow readings mean healthy gums, deeper ones can point to gum disease, and we share the actual numbers with you.

X-rays only on schedule or for cause

Images show decay hiding between teeth and bone loss a mirror never will. They aren't part of every visit. We take them once enough time has gone by or when a spot looks suspicious.

Teeth, bite and soft tissue

The dentist looks over every tooth, existing fillings and crowns, and how your teeth meet. We also check the tongue, cheeks and throat as a routine oral cancer screening.

Results before you go

We walk through what we saw. Anything that needs work goes into a written treatment plan with options listed together. Crowded teeth that trap plaque can be a reason to discuss clear aligners, and we are an Invisalign provider.

When It's Time to Book a Checkup

• Pink in the sink after brushing

  Gums in good shape don't bleed from everyday brushing or flossing. Bleeding is usually an early sign of gingivitis, and a cleaning can often reverse it.

• Breath that stays stale

  Bacteria live in tartar and gum pockets where mouthwash never reaches. Clearing that out often solves the problem.

• A zing from cold drinks or sugar

  The cause could be decay, thinning enamel or gums pulling back. An exam sorts out which.

• Your last visit was over a year ago

  No pain doesn't mean no problems. Cavities usually stay quiet until they've grown deep, and a year is plenty of time for buildup.

• Old dental work feels different

  Fillings and crowns wear down over time. Finding a chipped or rough edge early can keep the repair small.

How Your Visit Goes

1. 1

   You call and we set the time

   Tell us when you were last seen and if anything is bothering you. Have your insurance card handy if you have one, and we'll check what your plan covers.

2. 2

   Health history and X-rays

   We go over medications and health changes, since some affect your gums and mouth. Then we take any X-rays that are due.

3. 3

   The cleaning

   We remove tartar, polish, and floss. If your gums are tender, tell us. We can slow down or numb sore spots so you stay comfortable.

4. 4

   The exam and the talk

   The dentist checks everything and goes over what we found with you. You leave knowing what's fine, what to watch, and what, if anything, needs a treatment plan.

What Affects the Cost of a Checkup

A routine checkup is one of the easiest visits to predict. Your cost mostly comes down to what your teeth and gums need that day and how your coverage works. If anything goes past the standard visit, you hear about it before we do it.

Your plan's preventive benefits

Most dental insurance plans are accepted here, and many pay much of the cost of preventive visits. Your deductible counts, as does the number of cleanings your plan covers each year.

Whether X-rays are due

A visit with a full X-ray series costs more than a checkup without them. We only take them when there is a reason to.

The state of your gums

Deep pockets from gum disease call for more than a standard cleaning. That treatment, scaling and root planing, is billed as a separate procedure.

No insurance

Without coverage, you can use our Office Dental Plan. If the exam finds larger work, the CareCredit Patient Payment Plan can spread the cost over time.