Cleanings & Checkups

One of the best ways to keep your smile healthy is with regular cleanings and checkups. At Curtis Family Dentistry, we advise our patients to make these preventive visits a priority to help maintain their oral health and reduce dental costs. Kids and adults both need general dental care to keep their gums and teeth healthy and to catch oral health issues in the early stages. Home oral care is important, but so are routine professional cleanings. Most people should have two cleanings per year to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. This needs to be done more often if you have gingivitis or any level of gum disease. Professional cleanings by our hygienist include a periodontal exam to monitor your gum health. They are used to remove tartar and plaque that home care cannot, which can help stop gum infections and decay.

Comprehensive Dental Exams

At least once a year a comprehensive dental exam should be completed to monitor your oral health. Dr. Curtis performs a thorough exam using the latest dental technology to identify any issues that may need treatment. This includes chips, cracks or decay in teeth. Dental exams can also be used to check for other oral health issues. We offer oral cancer screenings that can be performed quickly during your regular exam to detect any of the early signs of oral cancer. On top of keeping your smile healthy, routine checkups and cleanings are the best way to reduce your family’s dental costs. Most insurance plans cover exams and cleanings as preventive care, for good reason. Keeping up with these routine visits can help prevent many dental problems and catch issues in the early stages when they are easier and less expensive to repair. Make sure you and your family receive your regular cleanings and checkups to maintain healthy smiles. Contact our office in Mooresville today to schedule your next checkups and cleanings.

How long do dental exams and cleanings take?

When scheduling appointments, it’s a good idea to pick a time frame where you will have at least one hour to spend in our office. You may find that your appointment only lasts 45 minutes or less, but some exams or cleanings can take longer depending on many different factors, like if X-rays need to be taken, if we discover any issues that need to be addressed, or if you have any questions for our team that you would like to discuss with us. We always try to complete appointments in a timely manner, but we also want to ensure that everyone who comes to see us receives the quality, customized dental care that they deserve!

Do dental cleanings whiten teeth?

Dental cleanings are important for keeping the teeth and gums clean and healthy, but none of the services that are performed during routine cleanings will make your teeth appear whiter. If you are interested in professional teeth whitening, Curtis Family Dentistry offers professional teeth whitening services that can give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of. Just ask Dr. Curtis about teeth whitening at your next dental cleaning and he can assess your smile and discuss your options with you.

Are dental cleanings covered by insurance?

While other preventive dental treatments may require some small, out-of-pocket costs, biannual dental cleanings are completely covered by dental insurance. Visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings and exams can prevent many dental issues from arising or address them before they become harder to treat and/or more expensive, so it’s in the best interest of you and your dental insurance provider to schedule regular dental appointments. If you don’t have dental insurance, please call our office or visit our financial page to learn more about our flexible financing options.