Dental Checkups & Cleanings State College
Achieve & Maintain a Healthy Smile
Do you know the secret to a healthy smile? It involves more than brushing and flossing at home. You must also see your dentist in State College at least twice a year. A semi-annual cleaning and checkup allow us to keep your teeth and gums healthy to preserve your smile. By doing so, you also reduce your long-term dental expenses by preventing the need for costly or invasive treatment down the road. Centre Smiles will create the foundation you need to ensure your smile lasts for a lifetime with regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings in State College.
Why Choose Centre Smiles for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?
- Easy-to-Use In-House Membership Plan Available
- Comprehensive Dental Care Under One Roof
- Comfortable Office & Friendly Dental Team
Protect Your Smile
Although many people find preventive appointments unnecessary, this could not be further from the truth. Your toothbrush and floss are your first line of defense against preventable issues, like tooth decay and gum disease. Even with the best oral hygiene habits and techniques, there are still areas in your mouth that cannot be cleaned at home. If you do not visit your dentist twice a year, these harmful accumulations can destroy your teeth and gums. Without quick intervention, the issues will continue to worsen, resulting in the need for a costly treatment in the future.
Visiting your dentist twice a year allows your smile to stay healthy while reducing your overall dental costs. In fact, every $1 you spend on preventive dentistry can save you $8 to $50 on restorative or emergency services.
Complete Dental Cleanings
Despite your best efforts, there are some areas in your mouth where your toothbrush and floss cannot clean, like under the gum line. A professional cleaning is the only way to remove the buildup. Our dental hygienist uses special dental tools to remove accumulations of plaque and tartar and polishes your teeth to give you a clean, beautiful smile.
We take the time to discuss your current oral hygiene habits and recommend additional techniques to keep your smile clean between your appointments.
Comprehensive Dental Checkups
A routine checkup allows us to monitor your oral health to detect any area of concern while it is still small. Besides a visual examination, we also use digital X-rays to evaluate your oral health below the surface. This gives us better insight into your dental health to monitor issues that may not be visible to the naked eye, like an infection.
We take the time to assess your teeth and gums while evaluating your jaw to look for other concerns, such as a disorder of the temporomandibular joint. We also look for other issues, like signs of oral cancer, bite complications, or signs of grinding your teeth. Based on the results of the examination, we create a treatment plan catering to your individual needs.
Invest in a Healthy Smile
Besides brushing and flossing, the American Dental Association recommends you visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. We take the time to give you a healthy, clean smile while staying within your budget by working with your dental insurance.
If it is time for your next visit, do not wait. Contact our dental office to schedule an appointment for a cleaning and checkup.
Checkups & Cleanings FAQs
How often do I need to get dental X-rays?
Most patients only need to get dental X-rays twice per year during their regular checkups and cleanings. But if we’re concerned about specific symptoms or you have a complicated oral health history, we recommend more frequent X-rays. And, naturally, if you’ll be receiving a treatment like dental implants or root canal therapy, we’ll need to take X-rays in order to get a good understanding of the situation.
You might be glad to know that we use digital X-rays at Centre Smiles. These are typically quicker and more comfortable than traditional X-rays, and emit significantly less radiation. You won’t even have to wear a lead vest!
What’s the difference between a regular dental cleaning and a deep cleaning?
In a nutshell, deep cleanings are more thorough than regular cleanings, and are often recommended to treat gum disease.
More specifically, a deep cleaning involves eliminating bacteria deposits below the gumline as well as from the surface of your teeth. They might be used to help a patient avoid needing scaling and root planing or as part of a broader treatment plan. If you’re diligent about scheduling regular checkups and cleanings, you’ll be less likely to need a deep cleaning!
Why do dentists recommend fluoride treatment after dental cleanings?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral known to strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities. In the US, trace amounts of fluoride is put into public drinking water, but if you’re prone to tooth decay, this may not be enough to preserve your oral health. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to give your smile an extra cavity-fighting boost! So, dentists will often recommend fluoride treatment after dental cleanings for children who are still learning to take care of their teeth or for those who have a harder time with cavity prevention.
What should I expect if I haven’t been to the dentist in years?
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, first of all, try not to worry too much about your appointment. While we do encourage patients to visit every six months, we also understand that sometimes life happens and it’s difficult to keep up with appointments. Plus, we’ve pretty much seen it all!
Depending on the state of your mouth, your checkup and cleaning may take longer than usual. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, we’ll want to be thorough during your exam and take plenty of time to review our findings with you. And if you have quite a bit of plaque buildup, it may be more difficult to clean your smile.
Rest assured, though, you’ll receive the same quality care that we provide to other patients!