Seven Reasons Not to Skip Your Dental Cleaning

Even when you take care of your teeth and have good dental health in Lancaster, PA, it’s important to have annual dental exams and biannual dental cleanings. At LANCO Dental Care, we look for signs of tooth decay and gum disease at your visit. When these are detected early on, they can be fixed easily. However, when gingivitis is left to advance to more serious stages of periodontal disease, it can lead to receding gums or tooth loss.

Biannual dental cleanings allow our team to remove plaque or tartar, and to polish your tooth enamel for a brighter and whiter smile. Allow us to help you and your family to maintain your oral health with family dental care. The American Dental Association recommends kids, teens, and adults should have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year. For patients with past or existing periodontal disease, or who wear braces, more frequent dental cleanings are necessary.

What happens at a dental cleaning?

At your dental visit at LANCO Dental Care, we will first examine your teeth and gums. Next, we will take a dental X-ray to look for any problems that we may not see with the naked eye. If we detect any issues, we will create a customized treatment plan for you. Cavities most often are addressed before your teeth cleaning, while other more extensive procedures may require another visit to our Lancaster, PA, dental office.

During your dental cleaning, we will remove any tartar or plaque on the teeth. Many people wonder why they should visit the dentist; it’s because tartar cannot be removed from just brushing and flossing at home. During your cleaning, our hygienist uses special tools to perform tooth scaling, which breaks tartar down without hurting your teeth. After your teeth and gums are clean, your enamel is polished, which helps remove any stains. Our professional hygienist team can make suggestions to our patients on how to take care of their teeth from home best.

Reasons not to skip your dental cleaning

At LANCO Dental Care, we believe there are many reasons why you should never skip a dental cleaning, including:

1. Cavity prevention: Getting your teeth cleaned every six months allows us to catch tooth decay early on and to fill a small cavity. When you wait to see a dentist for a long time, that decay can spread throughout the tooth, meaning we cannot save it. This will require a dental crown.

2. Treat gum disease early: When we detect gum disease at the gingivitis stage, it is reversible. However, when it is left untreated, it can lead to receding gums, bone loss, and tooth loss. If you have red or bleeding gums, schedule a visit to LANCO Dental Care for gingivitis treatment.

3. Maintain white teeth: This deep cleaning allows your teeth to stay as white as possible. During your dental visit, we polish your teeth to make them look bright.

4. Fresh breath: Regular cleanings help keep bad breath at bay since it destroys plaque buildup, which can be the main cause of persistent bad breath.

5. Get an oral cancer screening: During a visit, we will look at your tongue, lips, mouth, and even lymph nodes to detect signs of cancer. When detected early on, oral cancer can be treated effectively.

6. Maintain your health: Your oral health can directly affect your overall health. Advanced gum disease can lead to heart disease. Regular dental care has been proven to lower your risk of stroke.

7. Save money: When you treat oral health problems early on, they can be treated with quick fixes. However, when you delay dental care, you will need more costly and extensive procedures.

Are dental cleanings covered by insurance?

Yes, most dental insurance companies cover biannual dental cleanings. At your visit, we will review your insurance coverage with you to let you know of any financial obligations. If you don’t have dental insurance, we offer affordable payment options.

Schedule a dental cleaning to maintain your oral health today

Keep your smile as healthy as possible with biannual dental cleanings at LANCO Dental Care in Lancaster, PA. Our family practice offers preventive dental care to help with cavity prevention and reduce your risk of developing gum disease.