Dental Cleanings & Checkups in Johns Creek, GA

Most dental problems are small, simple and inexpensive to fix when they're caught early, and none of those things when they're not. Regular cleanings and exams, usually every six months, are how we catch them early. Here's what those visits involve at our Johns Creek office, and what you can do between them.

What happens at a checkup?

If you're new to us, your first visit starts with a full exam by one of our dentists. After that, your regular checkups follow a routine you'll get used to quickly:

• X-rays. We look for decay between the teeth, bone loss, abscesses, cysts and anything else a mirror can't show.
• Oral cancer screening. A quick check of your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat and gums.
• Gum check. We measure the pockets around each tooth to catch gum disease at the gingivitis stage, when it can still be reversed.
• Decay check. Every tooth surface, including the ones hiding behind old fillings.
• A look at your existing work. Fillings and crowns wear out. We check them for cracks, wear and decay and talk with you about repairs when something needs attention.

Then the cleaning. Our hygienist scrapes off tartar above and below the gumline (tartar is plaque that has hardened, and no toothbrush will remove it), clears the softer plaque, and polishes away surface stain.

Do I really need X-rays every time?

No. How often you need X-rays depends on your exam, your history and your cavity risk, and on any recent images from a previous dentist. New patients usually get a full series, then a set of bitewings every year or two to catch new cavities between the teeth. Someone who hasn't had a cavity in a decade needs fewer than someone who's had three in two years.

The radiation is small. Dental X-rays are among the lowest-dose medical images there are, digital sensors keep it lower still, and we only take the images your care needs.

Occasionally we'll want a panoramic X-ray instead, a single wraparound image of both jaws. It isn't detailed enough to spot a small cavity, but it's the right tool for wisdom teeth, impacted teeth, jaw fractures, sinus problems and planning implants or dentures. It's taken from outside the mouth, which also makes it the easy option if you gag on the regular sensors.

Can you catch cavities before they show up on an X-ray?

Often, yes. Alongside the exam and X-rays we may use a laser cavity detector (Diagnodent) as an extra check. It shines a harmless light on each tooth and measures what bounces back. Healthy enamel reflects very little. Decay reflects more, and the readout tells us how much. It finds decay hiding in the grooves of back teeth that an explorer can't reach and that may not show on film yet. Earlier detection means a smaller filling, or sometimes just a sealant and a watchful eye.

Who should get sealants?

Mostly kids, but not only kids. The chewing surfaces of molars have deep grooves that trap food and are hard to brush clean. Most decay in children starts right there. A sealant is a thin coating painted into those grooves that seals them off.

We recommend sealants on the first permanent molars when they come in around age six, and again on the twelve-year molars. Adults with deep grooves and no decay are good candidates too. Applying them takes a couple of minutes per tooth: clean the tooth, keep it dry, condition the surface, paint on the sealant and set it with a light. No drilling, no numbing. We check them for wear at each visit.

What does fluoride actually do?

Fluoride soaks into the outer layer of enamel and makes it harder for acid to dissolve. Everyone gets some from toothpaste and tap water, but that isn't always enough. We'll suggest a professional fluoride treatment, or a prescription-strength toothpaste for home, if you have exposed root surfaces, a dry mouth from medication, a recent run of cavities, or a diet heavy in sugar or carbs. Kids typically get fluoride at each cleaning.

One caution for parents: too much fluoride while adult teeth are forming can leave white spots (fluorosis). For children under three, use a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. From three to six, no more than a pea-sized amount. Supervise brushing, and ask us before adding fluoride supplements.

What should I be doing at home?

Nothing exotic. The basics, done well, prevent most of what we treat.

• Brush twice a day with a soft brush, ideally once before bed. Angle the bristles toward the gumline and use small circles rather than scrubbing. Scrubbing wears enamel and gums. An electric brush does the technique for you, which is why we recommend them.
• Floss once a day. Curve the floss around each tooth in a C shape and slide it just under the gumline. Don't snap it in and out. If floss is awkward, a floss holder or a water flosser is better than skipping it.
• Brush your tongue. It's where most bad breath lives.
• Rinse with water after meals when you can't brush. Ask us before settling on a mouthwash; some are useful, some are just mint.
• Snack less. It's the number of times a day your teeth see sugar that matters, more than the amount.

Replace your toothbrush every three months, or sooner once the bristles splay.

Ready to book a cleaning?

Call (770) 609-1281 or text us and we'll find you a time. We're at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road, next to Starbucks. We're in network with several PPO plans; see our insurance page for details.