Dental Cleanings and Sealants

Dental Cleaning

Dental Cleanings in Grapevine Texas

Routine dental cleanings are important to maintaining good oral hygiene. Professional cleaning by a hygienist can remove mineralized plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. It is recommended you go in for a cleaning once every six months.

 

How is a dental cleaning done?

You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes to an hour. A trained hygienist will do the cleaning, and a dentist may come in for an exam at the end. Most people find that dental cleanings are painless, and do not cause any discomfort.

 

There are two important steps to a dental cleaning. The first step is scaling the teeth, whereby the hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces. This can be performed by hand or with electric scalers depending on the hygienist’s preference. Typically, the hygienist will also clean the pockets of the gums to remove any plaque buildup there.

 

The second step is polishing to remove any final plaque and buff the teeth. Polishers generally have several different sized heads to clean hard to reach places.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home 

Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining good oral health. We encourage regular checkups at least every six months. Seeing the dentist twice a year is recommended because we can:

 

  • check for problems that you might not see or feel
  • find early signs of decay
  • treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable 

 

Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning, polishing, and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, the doctor checks the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, the doctor also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack.

 

Staying on track with your regular checkups can also help prevent costly and potentially painful problems or dental emergencies in the future. Prevention along the way can help you avoid serious problems down the road.

 

We work to schedule your regular checkups when it is convenient for you so you can stay on track with your goals for your smile and your total health.

Dental Sealants

Sometimes brushing is not enough. Everyone has hard-to-reach spots in their mouth and brushing doesn’t always fully clean those difficult places. When that happens, you are at risk of tooth decay. Using dental sealants on your teeth gives you an extra line of defense against tooth decay. Dental sealant is a plastic resin that bonds to the deep grooves in your tooth’s chewing surface. When sealing a tooth, the grooves of your teeth are filled and the tooth surface becomes smoother — and less likely to harbor plaque. With dental sealants, tooth brushing becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.

 

Dental sealants are usually applied to children’s teeth as a preventive measure during the years of most likely tooth decay. However, an adult’s teeth can also be sealed. It is more common to seal “permanent” teeth rather than “baby” teeth, but every person has unique needs. We will recommend dental sealants on a case-by-case basis. 

Dental sealants generally last from 3 to 5 years. However, it is fairly common to see adults with dental sealants still intact from their childhood. A dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact so if your sealant comes off you must let us know.

“I am always impressed with how professional and friendly my dentist’s office is every time that I go in. They know my name when I walk in the door and I always leave feeling comfortable with clean teeth! You guys rock!”

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“My by-annual cleaning experience was pleasant as always. I also had chipped my front tooth and Dr. Martin Nunes made it look good is new, you cannot even tell it! The staff here is AWESOME! Thanks, Chris M, Grapevine.”

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“The front staff was absolutely amazing when it came to understanding my insurance. They got me back on time and the hygienist took her time and didn’t try to rush through my cleaning. My teeth feel so clean thanks to The Grapevine Dentist.”

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“I’ve always hated going to the dentist, but my experience at The Grapevine Dentist has changed that. The most pleasant teeth cleaning I’ve ever had! The staff is really friendly and personable and really cares about your comfort. They also let you watch TV during your visit, which is an extra perk. I’ll definitely be going back!”

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