Cleanings and Prevention
Maintaining a healthy smile starts with consistent, professional preventive care. At Mt. Hermon Dental Care, we believe that catching small problems early is always better than treating bigger ones later. Our cleanings and prevention services are designed to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.
What Cleanings & Prevention Can Do
Routine preventive care is one of the most important investments you can make in your long-term oral health. Regular visits to our office allow us to monitor your smile, address concerns early, and give you the tools you need to care for your teeth at home. Our cleanings and prevention services can help:
- Remove plaque and tartar buildup
- Detect cavities in their earliest stages
- Identify signs of gum disease
- Screen for oral cancer
- Prevent tooth loss
- Protect teeth with sealants and fluoride
- Improve and maintain fresh breath
- Support your overall health and wellness
Professional Dental Cleanings
Even with thorough brushing and flossing at home, plaque can harden into tartar in areas that are difficult to reach. A professional cleaning removes this buildup from the surfaces of your teeth and along the gumline, where it does the most damage if left untreated. Our hygienists are gentle and thorough, and will make sure your teeth feel their best before you leave.
During your cleaning, we will also polish your teeth to remove surface stains and give you that smooth, clean feeling that is hard to replicate at home. We will review your home care routine with you and offer personalized recommendations to help you get the most out of brushing and flossing between visits.
Comprehensive Oral Exams
A comprehensive oral exam gives us a complete picture of your oral health and allows us to identify any concerns before they develop into more serious problems. We will examine your teeth, gums, jaw, and soft tissues carefully, looking for signs of decay, gum disease, bite issues, and other conditions that may require attention.
Oral exams also include a screening for oral cancer, which is most treatable when caught early. We check the tongue, throat, cheeks, and other soft tissues for any unusual changes in color, texture, or shape. This quick and painless screening is an important part of every comprehensive exam we perform.
How often should I come in for a cleaning and exam?
For most patients in good oral health, we recommend a professional cleaning and exam every six months. Patients with a history of gum disease, frequent cavities, or other ongoing concerns may benefit from more frequent visits. We will work with you to determine a schedule that makes sense for your individual needs and helps you stay ahead of any developing problems.
How much do cleanings and exams cost?
The cost of a routine cleaning and exam varies depending on your individual needs and whether any additional treatment is recommended during your visit. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive care at little or no cost to you, as insurers recognize the long-term value of keeping small problems from becoming larger ones. We will review your coverage with you and make sure you have a clear understanding of any costs before we begin.
Why professional cleanings are better than brushing alone
Brushing and flossing at home are essential, but they cannot remove tartar once it has formed on the teeth. Only a professional cleaning can do that. Regular visits also give us the opportunity to catch problems you may not be aware of, since many dental issues develop without any noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Professional cleanings and exams are your first and most important line of defense against tooth loss and costly restorative treatment.
Gum Disease Treatment & Prevention
Gum disease is one of the most common dental conditions in adults, and many people are unaware they have it until it has already progressed. It begins as gingivitis, a mild inflammation of the gum tissue caused by plaque buildup, and can advance to periodontitis if left untreated. At this stage, the infection begins to affect the bone and tissue that support your teeth.
The good news is that gum disease is largely preventable with consistent oral hygiene and regular professional care. We screen for signs of gum disease at every visit and will recommend the appropriate course of treatment if we detect any concerns. Early intervention is key to keeping your gums healthy and your teeth in place.
What are the signs of gum disease?
Common signs of gum disease include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession, and teeth that feel loose or have shifted in position. Many patients experience few or no symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular exams are so important. If you have noticed any of these signs, contact our office so we can evaluate your gum health and recommend next steps.
How is gum disease treated?
Mild gum disease can often be resolved with a thorough professional cleaning and improved home care. More advanced cases may require a deep cleaning procedure known as scaling and root planing, which removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces to help the gums reattach. We will assess your condition and recommend the most conservative treatment that will achieve the results you need.
Can gum disease affect my overall health?
Research has established a strong link between gum disease and systemic health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. Treating and preventing gum disease is not just about protecting your smile — it is an important part of caring for your overall health. We take gum health seriously at every visit and will keep you informed about the condition of your gum tissue at every appointment.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a simple and highly effective preventive treatment that can significantly reduce the risk of cavities in the back teeth. The chewing surfaces of the molars are naturally uneven, with grooves and pits that are difficult to clean thoroughly with a toothbrush. Sealants work by coating these surfaces with a thin, protective layer of resin that seals out food particles and bacteria before decay has a chance to develop.
Applying sealants is quick, comfortable, and non-invasive. We clean and dry the tooth, apply a conditioning gel, and then paint on the sealant material, which bonds directly to the tooth surface and hardens in place. The entire process takes only a few minutes per tooth and requires no drilling or removal of tooth structure.
Sealants are most commonly recommended for children and teenagers, whose newly erupted permanent molars are especially vulnerable to decay. However, adults without existing decay or fillings in their back teeth can benefit from sealants as well. We will let you know if sealants are a good option for you or your child during your next exam.
With proper care, sealants can last for several years before they need to be reapplied. We check the condition of existing sealants at every visit to make sure they are still providing full protection. If a sealant has worn down or chipped, it can be easily reapplied to restore coverage.
Sealants are one of the most cost-effective preventive treatments available in dentistry. The investment in a sealant is a fraction of the cost of treating a cavity, and when applied early, they can protect teeth through the years when decay risk is highest. Combined with regular cleanings and good home care, sealants are a valuable tool in keeping your smile healthy for the long term.
For parents looking for practical ways to protect their children’s teeth, sealants are among our most highly recommended preventive treatments. They are safe, painless, and proven to make a real difference in long-term oral health outcomes. Talk to us at your next visit to find out whether sealants are right for your family.
A Healthier Smile Starts Here
Preventive care is the foundation of everything we do at Mt. Hermon Dental Care. Whether you are due for a routine cleaning or have questions about protecting your smile, our Scotts Valley team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
