Comprehensive Dental Exams & Cleanings

Your oral health is connected to the health of your whole body, and with regular dental exams and cleanings, you’re taking care of every part of you. In fact, your mouth tells your dentist a lot about your overall wellness, and a dental exam is a key aspect of maintaining your health at every age.

Your teeth cleaning, meanwhile, is all about preventive health care, including helping you avoid gum disease, which affects 7 out of 10 Canadians.

If you’re interested in bringing your child for an exam and cleaning, please also read about our approach to children’s dentistry and our philosophy on family dentistry.

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Personalized Care for You & Your Children

Your family’s oral health needs are unique, and we’ll recommend an exam and hygiene schedule that matches our recommended custom treatment plan.

While caring for your own teeth is much more of a personal responsibility, helping your child keep their teeth and gums healthy is just as important. We recommend 2 dental exams and cleanings a year for your child, and our team will work hard to ensure they are relaxed and comfortable throughout their appointment.

We strive to make your child’s dentist appointment informative and fun. The more they enjoy their dental appointment, the easier it will be to help them value and cherish their oral health.

What to Expect During Your Dental Exam & Cleaning

Our goal at your dental exam and hygiene appointment is to identify any minor problems before they become big ones.

After all, smaller problems, like incorrect flossing techniques or signs that you’re missing a spot when brushing, are simpler to fix than cavities or extractions (though we always do our best to make those procedures as comfortable as possible for you, too).

At your appointment, we’ll discuss your dental and health history, explain any findings to you, and give you an opportunity to ask questions about your oral health.

Your Exam

Your dentist takes the lead in the exam portion of your appointment. They closely inspect the inside of your mouth, including your teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks.

Your dentist may also examine your jaw and neck, including checking for any signs of inflammation that could suggest an issue.

Some specific things your dentist examines include:

The positioning of your teeth, including spacing and bite
Early signs of cavities
The depth of any periodontal (gum) pockets
Your gum health, including inflammation, bleeding, or other signs of gum disease
Damaged, missing, or decayed teeth
Indications you may grind your teeth
Growths, cysts, lesions, or any other potential signs of throat or mouth cancer

Depending on when your last X-rays were taken, we may also suggest diagnostic imaging so we can see beneath the surface to identify things like cavities beneath fillings, impacted wisdom teeth, bone loss due to gum disease, or decay under the gum line.

Your Cleaning

Your hygienist performs a deep cleaning of your teeth, which involves removing tartar, polishing the surface of your teeth, applying a fluoride treatment, and expertly flossing between every tooth.

The removal of tartar is an essential part of your appointment. Even with good oral hygiene habits at home, a biofilm called plaque forms on your teeth. If you’re not able to completely brush and floss away this plaque, it can cause damage, including tooth decay, and it will eventually harden into tartar.

Tartar can’t be removed by brushing and flossing at home, so we’ll take care of it for you. When left alone, tartar can lead to gum disease. While mild gum disease (gingivitis) is fairly simple to treat, it can progress to the more serious infection called periodontitis.

Periodontitis can damage your gums and bone. But by keeping up with your dental exams and cleanings, you’re taking an essential step in avoiding gum disease and other dental concerns.

Signs You Should See the Dentist Soon

We know it’s not always easy to make time to go to the dentist. That’s why we do our best to give you a positive experience every visit. If you’re living with any of the following oral symptoms, we especially encourage you to book an appointment with us soon:

Puffy or bleeding gums when you brush, which is a common sign of gum disease
Sensitive teeth, which may be a sign of a cavity, gum disease, or a damaged tooth
Bad breath, which might be an early sign of gum disease or indicate another health concern, such as dry mouth, cavities, or a yeast infection