Preventive Services
Oral Assessments
Your initial visit will begin with a comprehensive oral examination. The dental hygienist will review your health history, diet and determine your risk for dental and periodontal conditions. We also check your head and neck for any abnormalities, screen for oral cancer, and do a thorough examination of the hard and soft tissues in your mouth, including an assessment of your oral hygiene. The information gathered will be used by the dental hygienist to discuss your goals with you and prepare a client centered treatment plan. If required, you will be referred to a dentist or other healthcare provider for further examination. At subsequent visits, your examinations will be less involved, but still include important disease screening. Debridement or Scaling
The removal of tartar deposits called "calculus" from the teeth, both above and below the gum line is called scaling or debridement. We charge this treatment in units of time. Each unit is 15 minutes of time. The amount of therapeutic debridement required varies with from person to person, but can range from four to 16 units per year. The removal of plaque and calculus, bacteria and the toxins they release is the best way to maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevent or reverse gingivitis and periodontitis.
