S. John Salivonchik D.M.D., P.C.
Request An AppointmentCheckups And Cleanings – Lehigh Valley, PA
Routine Care For a Healthy, Beautiful Smile
As much as Dr. Salivonchik and the rest of our team enjoy seeing you, our goal is actually to see you as little as possible! With routine checkups and cleanings, we can prevent many major dental problems and cut down the time you spend in the dental chair. Most of our patients only need to come in for these maintenance visits twice a year to keep their smile looking and feeling its best. If you’re in need of a checkup and cleaning, schedule a visit today. We’d love to help you achieve great oral health while keeping your dental work to a minimum.
Why Are These Visits So Critical?
Oral health problems such as cavities, fractures, and gum disease only get worse the longer they remain untreated. For instance, we often catch small cavities that can’t be felt yet and repair them with simple, inexpensive dental fillings.
Without routine care, however, these cavities progress and get closer to the nerve in the center of the tooth where they begin causing sensitivity and discomfort. Unfortunately, at this stage, they often require more extensive work such as a dental crown. In severe cases, a root canal or extraction may be necessary.
What’s Included In Every Checkup?
You may think of checkups as a simple “cavity check visit,” but the truth is that we evaluate every aspect of your oral health. Here’s what’s included:
- Medical history - There’s a strong mouth-body connection, so we start by reviewing your medical history.
- Routine X-rays - We want to find problems as early as possible and preferably before they cause pain. By taking routine X-rays (usually just once per year) we can see what’s happening inside your teeth, under your dental work, and inside your jaws.
- Oral cancer screening - At every checkup, we perform a simple oral cancer screening that takes just minutes.
- Gum exam - Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and also increases the risk of many serious health conditions, so we do an annual exam to make sure your gums are healthy.
- Dental exam - Finally, Salivonchik will closely look at your teeth and existing dental work and answer any questions you may have.
What’s a Cleaning Like?
Even if you have outstanding brushing and flossing habits, it’s impossible to remove the cement-like deposits of tartar from under your gumline. By seeing one of our friendly hygienists twice a year, we can keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Along with good habits at home, these visits will help you avoid bad breath, gum disease, and cavities.
Before getting started, we’ll ask if you have any concerns or if there are ways we can make your cleaning more comfortable. Then we’ll use special tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and under your gumline. We’ll end with a polish and floss to help your teeth look and feel great. Throughout your visit, we’ll be checking in with you from time to time to make sure you’re doing well.
As a dentist in Lehigh Valley, we know that prevention is so much easier than treatment, so we encourage everyone to get regular checkups and cleanings. These visits are well worth it because they help you have a lifetime of healthy smiles.
