Formerly Conklin & Ward Dental Groupand Kevin G. Murphy & Associates
Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Baltimore, MD
Expert Oral Care
You could say that checkups and cleanings are a dental practice’s bread and butter. But rest assured, our care is far from ordinary! With two general dentists and two specialists on our team, we can not only help you monitor and clean your teeth but also provide expert gum health and tooth replacement services if necessary. When you visit Baltimore Dental Arts for regular appointments, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with quality dentistry.
Why Choose Baltimore Dental Arts for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?
- Advanced Dental Technology Offers Speed And Comfort
- Got Dental Insurance? We’ll Do The Paperwork!
- We Welcome Patients Of All Ages
Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?
Biannual dental checkups allow us to monitor your oral health and provide timely treatment. We hope we won’t find any warning signs of conditions like gum disease and cavities during your appointment, but if we do, we’ll likely be able to take care of the issue before it becomes more complicated.
Biannual cleanings give us the opportunity to scrub harmful plaque and tartar from your smile. These substances are just as dangerous as bacteria if allowed to accumulate and are too strong to be washed away with a normal toothbrush. Our professional tools are up to the task, though!
What to Expect During a Dental Checkup
Checking up on your oral health means we’ll carefully inspect your mouth for gum disease, cavities, dental work in need of repair or adjustments, oral cancer, and more. We might also take a digital X-ray of your smile to get a better look at your dental roots and jawbone. After our exam, we’ll report our findings and answer any questions you might have.
What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning
Essentially, we’ll use our special tools to give your pearly whites a thorough cleaning. We’ll remove plaque and tartar, floss between your teeth, and finish up with a polishing – or a fluoride application, if requested. You can expect to leave our office with a sparkling white smile!
Checkups & Cleanings FAQs
How Long Does a Dental Exam Take?
A regular dental exam involves a visual examination of your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues for signs of issues like infections, injuries, and oral cancer. The dentist at Baltimore Dental Arts will be sure to check for signs of tooth decay and dental misalignments and take the time to discuss any concerns you have about your oral health or hygiene. Our dentist will also inspect any existing dental work like crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures, so please be sure to bring any removable oral appliances with you. The exam part of your routine checkup and cleaning should take about ten to fifteen minutes, but some patients may need more or less time than that.
How Long Does a Regular Dental Cleaning Take?
A patient who practices excellent oral hygiene, sees us every six months for checkups, and is free from gum disease will probably only need a regular dental cleaning that takes about thirty minutes. However, a patient with gum disease or large accumulations of plaque or food debris may require more time than this, and those with advanced dental infections may need to be scheduled for additional treatments like tooth-colored fillings or scaling and root planing.
How Often Do I Need to Get Dental X-Rays?
Dental X-rays typically take a few minutes and are usually completed during routine checkups every six months. The three types of dental X-rays include:
- Bitewings: These are used to detect cavities.
- Periapical X-rays: These help with planning treatments and the identification of problems in the dental roots.
- Panoramic X-rays: These are taken every three to five years to help detect structural concerns such as orthodontic problems and wisdom teeth development.
The type of X-ray you need will depend on how long it has been since you last received X-rays, the concerns you raise during your checkup, and if you are considering treatments like dental implants. If you complain about jaw pain, we may recommend taking X-rays so we can investigate the problem.
What Factors Can Lengthen My Regular Dental Appointment?
Most dentists schedule patients for one-hour to one-and-a-half-hour checkups, and new patients may be allotted slightly more time. However, your dental checkup may take longer than expected if our dentist detects oral health issues or if you wish to consult with them about your candidacy for treatments like cosmetic dentistry or dental implants.