Cleanings & Oral Exams
Enjoy full-service family dentistry in a friendly neighbourhood spot.
“Looks like you’ve been flossing too much,” said no dentist ever.
Regular dental cleanings and exams are the foundation of good oral health. Even if you’re a floss boss who brushes for the full two minutes every time, your smile and wallet will still benefit from preventive care.
Cleanings eliminate hardened plaque (tartar) that you can’t get rid of at home, and exams ensure tiny problems don’t become big ones. This goes a long way in minimizing your treatment needs and maximizing your oral health.
Supports Early Detection
Routine dental exams help the dentist catch issues, ranging from tooth decay to oral cancer, in their earliest stages when they’re easier and more affordable to treat.
Routine dental exams help the dentist catch issues, ranging from tooth decay to oral cancer, in their earliest stages when they’re easier and more affordable to treat.
Brightens Your Smile
Our highly trained hygienists remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline before polishing away surface stains and making your enamel shine.
Our highly trained hygienists remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline before polishing away surface stains and making your enamel shine.
Boosts Oral Health
Cleanings banish plaque bacteria, keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Our team also gives you personalized guidance and recommendations for home care.
Cleanings banish plaque bacteria, keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Our team also gives you personalized guidance and recommendations for home care.
What to expect during a dental cleaning and exam
Step 1
We start every new patient appointment off with digital x-rays, photos, and a digital health scan. This gives us a clear picture of your oral and facial structures and a baseline for future visits.
Step 2
Once you’re nice and comfortable, a hygienist will start your dental cleaning. They’ll use their oral hygiene super skills to gently remove tartar build-up, and brush, floss, and polish your teeth.
Step 3
One of our talented Kitsilano dentists will assess your x-rays and scan before performing a comprehensive oral exam. They’ll evaluate your teeth, gums, oral tissues, head, and neck.
Step 4
The dentist will go over their findings with you, answer any questions you have, and make personalized oral hygiene recommendations. If they find an issue, they’ll walk you through the next steps.
How often do I need a dental cleaning and exam?
While we love hanging out with our patients, most people only need to come in for an exam and cleaning every six months. However, if you have certain oral health issues like periodontal disease, we may recommend more frequent appointments.
Are exams and cleanings really that important?
Yes! Dental exams and cleanings are the cornerstones of preventive care. During cleanings, the hygienist uses specialized tools to remove hard deposits, called tartar, from the teeth and gumline. This reduces your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The hygienist also lets you know how you’re doing with your oral hygiene routine and where you can make improvements.
Keeping up with regular dental exams ensures the dentist can detect problems in their earliest stages. This is important because the sooner issues like oral cancer and gum disease are treated, the more successful treatment is likely to be (not to mention easier and cheaper). Some things like very early tooth decay and gingivitis can even be reversed if identified quickly.
What if further treatment is needed?
Your dentist will help you prioritize any concerns and then create a treatment plan that fits your needs and budget.
