Check Up And Cleaning

There are 2 parts to a regular dental visit – check up, or examination and the cleaning, or oral prophylaxis. At the dental check up your dental professional will check for cavities. X-rays might be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. The exam will also include a check for plaque and tartar on your teeth.

What is included in a dental cleaning? Using a small hooked tool called a scaler, the hygienist removes any plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth, near the gum line and in between the teeth. Depending on how much buildup is present, either a manual or ultrasonic scaler is used.