Top Dentist Serving St. Peters

Routine Cleanings and Exams

Routine Cleanings and Exams in St. Peters, MO

Comprehensive Preventive Dental Care for the Whole Family

At Scanlon Family Dental, we believe prevention is the foundation of lifelong oral health. Routine dental cleanings and exams allow us to catch small issues before they become painful or expensive problems – helping you maintain a healthy, confident smile year after year. Our St. Peters dental team provides comfortable, thorough preventive care for patients of all ages in a welcoming, family-centered environment.

Why Routine Dental Visits Matter

Even with great home hygiene, plaque and tartar can build up in hard-to-reach areas over time. Regular professional cleanings remove that buildup and keep your gums and teeth healthy. During your visit, our team carefully checks for early signs of decay, gum disease, or other changes that may not be visible or cause discomfort yet. These visits also give us the opportunity to monitor existing dental work, restorations, or implants and make sure everything continues to function as it should. We’ll talk with you about your brushing and flossing habits, answer questions, and offer personalized guidance for maintaining a bright, healthy smile between visits. We recommend most patients visit us every six months for a cleaning and exam. Depending on your oral health needs, we may suggest a slightly different schedule – for example, more frequent visits for patients managing periodontal disease.

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What to Expect During Your Dental Cleaning

Our dental hygienists take the time to perform a complete and gentle cleaning while keeping you comfortable throughout your visit.

Your cleaning includes:

Plaque and tartar removal: Specialized instruments safely remove deposits that can’t be brushed or flossed away at home.
Polishing: A professional polish smooths your enamel and removes surface stains, leaving your teeth feeling fresh and clean.
Fluoride treatment (if needed): For children and adults at higher risk of cavities, we may apply a topical fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel.
Home care review: We’ll discuss brushing and flossing techniques and recommend products tailored to your needs.

Our goal is not just to clean your teeth but to help you understand how to protect them every day. Education is a key part of our preventive philosophy.

Comprehensive Dental Exams

Each routine visit also includes a full exam by one of our experienced dentists. During this evaluation, we check for:

Cavities and weakened enamel
Early signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
Worn or cracked restorations
Signs of bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching)
Jaw and bite alignment
Oral cancer or other soft-tissue abnormalities

By identifying potential issues early, we can often correct them with conservative treatment – saving you time, discomfort, and cost down the road.

Advanced Diagnostic Technology: Digital X-Rays

Many dental problems begin below the surface, where they aren’t visible to the naked eye. That’s why we incorporate digital X-rays as part of our comprehensive exams when necessary. These images help us evaluate the health of tooth roots, bone levels, and developing teeth, as well as detect cavities between teeth before they cause pain.

Digital X-rays offer several advantages over traditional film:

Lower radiation exposure (up to 80% less)
Immediate images for faster diagnosis
Enhanced detail that helps us make accurate, conservative treatment decisions
Environmentally friendly (no chemicals or film waste)

We take X-rays only when needed, using your age, dental history, and current oral health as our guide.

Relaxing with Nitrous Oxide Sedation

We understand that visiting the dentist can make some patients feel anxious. That’s why we offer nitrous oxide sedation, also known as “laughing gas,” to help you feel relaxed and comfortable during your cleaning or exam.

Nitrous oxide is a safe, mild sedative that you inhale through a small mask placed over your nose. Within minutes, it produces a calm, euphoric sensation that eases nervousness while keeping you awake and able to communicate. Once your treatment is complete, the effects wear off almost immediately, allowing you to safely drive yourself home.

This option is available for both children and adults and can be especially helpful for patients with dental anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or a history of difficult dental experiences.

Care for Every Member of the Family

From your child’s first cleaning to your own regular checkups, our team takes pride in providing individualized care for every age and stage of life. Parents are encouraged to bring children as young as three for their first cleaning and exam, and we often recommend introducing toddlers to the office environment by attending with their parents or grandparents. Early familiarity helps kids build lifelong comfort with dental care.

We also tailor our approach for seniors, patients with restorations or dentures, and those managing periodontal disease. Whatever your needs, you’ll receive respectful, attentive care in a judgment-free setting.

How Often Should You Schedule a Cleaning?

The American Dental Association recommends professional cleanings and exams at least twice a year. However, we customize every care plan to each patient’s needs. If you have a history of gum disease, excessive plaque buildup, or certain health conditions, we may recommend more frequent cleanings to keep your mouth healthy and prevent recurrence.

Between visits, we encourage all patients to:

Brush twice daily for two minutes
Floss at least once daily
Limit sugary or acidic foods
Drink plenty of water
Call our office promptly if you notice bleeding gums, sensitivity, or tooth pain

Preventive habits at home and routine professional care are the best defense against dental problems.

Schedule Your Cleaning and Exam in St. Peters, MO

Protecting your oral health starts with a simple step: scheduling your next cleaning. Whether it’s your first visit with us or your regular six-month checkup, our friendly team at Scanlon Family Dental is here to make every experience comfortable and thorough.

Call (636) 441-1020 today or request an appointment online to book your routine cleaning and exam at our convenient St. Peters location. We proudly serve patients throughout St. Charles County, including Cottleville, O’Fallon, and St. Peters, MO.

Top Dentist Serving St. Peters

Routine Cleanings and Exams