What a preventive visit includes
Every six months we recommend a professional cleaning and an exam with Dr. Anagnostakos. Your hygienist removes the plaque and tartar a toothbrush cannot reach, polishes your teeth and checks your gums for early signs of periodontal disease. Dr. Anagnostakos then examines every tooth, reviews your X-rays and looks for anything that should be watched or treated.
- Professional cleaning and polishing
- Comprehensive exam by Dr. Anagnostakos
- Digital X-rays, taken only when your history calls for them
- Gum health measurement and oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatment and sealants for children and teens
- A plain-language plan for anything that needs attention
Why twice a year
Cavities and gum disease rarely hurt until they are advanced. A six-month interval lets us catch decay while a small filling will fix it, and treat early gum inflammation before it costs you bone and teeth. Patients who keep this schedule spend far less on dentistry over their lifetime than patients who come in only when something hurts.
If you have a history of gum disease, diabetes or heavy tartar build-up, Dr. Anagnostakos may recommend visits every three or four months instead.
Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing)
If your gums bleed easily or have pulled away from your teeth, a regular cleaning is not enough. A deep cleaning removes bacteria and tartar from below the gumline so the gums can reattach. We numb the area so the procedure is comfortable, and we usually treat half the mouth per visit.
Children and families
We see patients of every age in one office, so a parent and two children can be scheduled back to back. First visits for young children are short and gentle: a ride in the chair, a count of the teeth and a cleaning if they are ready. Sealants on the chewing surfaces of new molars are a quick, painless way to prevent most childhood cavities.
Digital X-rays
We use digital sensors, which use a fraction of the radiation of film and show up instantly on the screen so Dr. Anagnostakos can walk you through what he sees. X-rays are taken on a schedule based on your age and risk, not at every visit by default.