Dental Cleanings & Exams in Warrensburg & Oak Grove, MO
Achieve a Healthy, Beautiful Smile at Ridgeview Family Dental
Without regular visits to your dentist, you risk the chance of developing oral diseases and an unhealthy smile. At Ridgeview Family Dental, our Warrensburg and Oak Grove dentists love seeing patients visit us for their biannual dental cleanings and exams. While keeping up with an at-home oral hygiene routine is necessary, visiting our dental office once every six months will help keep bacteria at bay and avoid the development of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
We love welcoming new patients to our two dental offices in Missouri. To schedule an appointment, call us today at 660-747-9117.
What Are Dental Cleanings?
Dental cleanings consist of dental hygienists removing built-up plaque and tartar from the teeth and above the gums. Tooth cleanings are essential for everyone as there are hard-to-reach areas in the mouth that are hard to get at home. Regular dental cleanings help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health from occurring. Our Missouri dentists recommend patients visit our dental office twice a year to receive tooth cleanings.
What Are Dental Exams?
Dental exams are a checkup of the teeth and gums. At your cleaning appointment, your dentist will always perform a visual exam of the teeth, mouth, and other oral structures. They’ll check for any signs of gum problems like redness, swelling, or sores. Periodontal pockets, the spaces between the top of your gum line and where the soft tissue secures the tooth in place, are also measured.
Benefits of Dental Cleanings and Exams
By keeping up with regular dental cleanings and exams, patients will notice the following benefits:
- Early diagnosis of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer
- Fill in the gaps in your at-home oral care routine
- Immediate and customized treatment of underlying oral health issues
- Eliminates built-up plaque and tartar
How Plaque and Tartar Effect Your Teeth
When individuals neglect to visit the dentist for regular dental cleanings, plaque and tartar can build up. Plaque is a sticky white film that forms and sticks to your teeth. A buildup of plaque can lead to tooth decay, chronic bad breath, gum disease, or other oral health issues. When left uncleaned, plaque eventually hardens into tartar.
Tartar is a hard-to-remove substance that leads to infection harboring pockets between the teeth and gums. It can’t be removed by brushing alone, as it requires specialized dental tools. When left unchecked, tartar can create deep cavities, enamel loss, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
For individuals in good oral health, dental cleanings take around 30 minutes. However, for individuals suffering from poor oral health, or who haven’t visited the dentist in a while, dental cleanings can take closer to one hour. Remember, taking better care of your oral health means spending less time in the dental chair.
In most cases, yes, insurance covers the costs of a dental cleaning. Patients without dental insurance should expect to pay between $75 and $200 depending on where they live. It’s always best to contact your insurance provider to understand coverage details.
If you’re experiencing any of the following signs, you may be in poor oral health:
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Severe tooth pain
- Tooth decay
- Loose teeth
- Swelling of the jaw
- Gum recession
- Mouth sores
Visit Ridgeview Family Dental Today!
Are you in search of a new dentist in Warrensburg or Oak Grove, MO? Look no further than Ridgeview Family Dental! Our dentists are gladly welcoming new patients to their practice. To schedule your dental cleaning, call our office at 660-747-9117. You can also fill out our online contact form for more information.