Dental Exams & Cleanings
Your smile is a valuable asset – it can brighten someone’s day, help you in your career, and, if you take proper care of it, it can benefit your overall health. Research suggests that the health of your mouth mirrors the health of your body as a whole. If your oral health is in good condition, your overall health is most likely also good. Likewise, if your oral health isn’t so great, your overall health is probably not the best either.
In order to keep your teeth healthy, it is extremely important to practice good oral hygiene at home by brushing and flossing twice a day and visit Four Seasons Family Dental regularly. Regular exams and cleanings are invaluable because we can tell a lot about your overall health during these visits.
The Dental Exam
During each semi-annual exam, Dr. Dhussa will check for cavities and note any changes since your last checkup. If necessary, we’ll take digital x-rays so that we can monitor the development of any potential problems deep within your teeth.
Next, we’ll check your gums. This is done with an instrument that measures the spaces (pockets) between your gums and teeth. If these pockets are shallow, you have healthy gums. If these spaces are deeper, you may have gum disease.
The Cleaning
Bits of the food and beverages you consume during the day stick to the surfaces of your teeth. This creates the substance we refer to as plaque. Plaque buildup isn’t obvious, so you may not even be aware of the presence of these bacteria until a dental problem develops. Scheduling professional cleanings twice a year is essential for monitoring the buildup of plaque and taking appropriate action.
Brushing and flossing at home helps remove plaque from your teeth, but even the most diligent oral hygiene can’t get rid of tartar. During your cleaning, our hygienist will carefully remove any tartar, and then polish your teeth to remove any surface stains.
If we find signs of periodontal disease, we may recommend a deep cleaning and more frequent cleanings so we can stay a step ahead of the disease.
Fluoride Treatment & Dental Sealants
Fluoride is important for keeping your family's teeth strong and healthy. It is available through topical applications as well as in toothpaste and mouth rinses. Another great source of fluoride is non-bottled drinking water.
We use dental sealants to fill in tiny crevices on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Children especially benefit from the application of sealants used to protect their permanent teeth.
Take the Next Step to a Healthier Smile
Regular appointments help keep your smile bright and let us keep an eye out for any other health issues that may arise. We offer convenient early morning and late evening hours so that you can arrange appointments that fit your family’s busy schedule.
Most insurance covers the cost of routine cleanings and exams for you and your family, and we’ll be happy to work with you so that you get the maximum benefit allowed under your plan. If you’re not insured, we also accept cash, check, major credit cards, and interest-free financing.
We look forward to helping you and your family achieve the best oral health possible. Please contact our office, and a friendly member of our team will help you schedule your next cleaning and exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
We generally recommend cleanings once every six months for most patients. However, if we find you have periodontal disease or a tendency to build up plaque, we’ll recommend more frequent cleanings. Regular dental cleanings and periodic examinations also allow Dr. Dhussa and our team to detect and treat problems when they are minor and less expensive to fix.
Regular dental cleanings aren't just a good idea; they’re absolutely essential if you want to enjoy good dental health. Being conscientious about making and keeping regular appointments for cleanings can make the difference between a lifetime of healthy teeth and dental problems that seem to go on forever.
You may wonder why it’s important to have a professional cleaning if you already take care of your teeth. The reason is that no matter how well and how often you brush and floss, your toothbrush just can’t do the whole job. Using special instruments, our dental hygienist can get into all the nooks and crannies that you can’t reach when you brush at home.
Regular thorough dental cleanings are the best defense you have against cavities and gum disease. Please call our East Brunswick dental office and we’ll be happy to get you set up with your next dental cleaning appointment.
Meet Our Doctor:
Mahima Dhussa DMD
After finishing dental school in India, Dr. Dhussa moved to the United States. She attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, NY. During the course of her studies Dr. Dhussa received IDA scholarships and a gold medal for excellence in the field of dental medicine. She was one of the few chosen for an international award by the International College of Dentistry, headquartered in Washington DC.
Dr. Dhussa keeps herself updated with the latest advances in the field of dentistry to ...