Regular Exams and Cleaning

Regular exams are an important part of maintaining your oral health.  With the use of x-rays, we can also find bone decay, tumors, and impacted teeth. Dental exams can even help identify early signs of general health problems such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.

During your regular exam, we will:

• Check for any problems you may not see or feel
• Look for cavities or other signs of tooth decay
• Inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease
• Perform a thorough teeth cleaning

Your regular exam will take about 45 minutes. Each regular exam includes a detailed teeth cleaning, during which we will clean, polish, and rinse your teeth to remove any tartar and plaque that have built up on the tooth’s surface.

If you haven’t had a cleaning in some time and your x-rays show there is build-up below the gum line, we may suggest scheduling a periodontal scaling and root planning, also known as an SRP. In cases where an infection is already present or your gum health has deteriorated, an antibiotic regime or other treatment may be necessary prior to the SRP.

SRP does take longer than a standard cleaning, typically one to two hours. If there is extensive build-up, the cleaning may be broken into two sessions, cleaning two quadrants per appointment. As build-up below the gum line is often associated with gum disease, we recommend scheduling exams more frequently—every three months rather than every six months to monitor your gum tissue recovery. 

Visiting our office for routine dental exams also gives you the chance to talk to the doctor about any questions you may have about your oral health. Regular exams are offered by appointment only, so please contact our practice today to schedule your next dental exam and teeth cleaning.

If anxiety is keeping you from scheduling regular dental exams and cleanings, rest assured that Dr. Rizvi’s easygoing bedside manner puts even the most anxious patients at ease. At Ashburn Dental, we genuinely care about our patients, and our goal is to create lasting relationships. We value friendships over caseloads.