Rock Hill Teeth Cleaning

Do you need to get your teeth cleaned? Preventive dentistry is a big part of our practice at Cranford Dental. With good hygiene care, many of our patients maintain strong and healthy teeth.

Our office strives the avoid dental work rather than do dental work. This begins with patients who commit to regular dental hygiene visits.

We are proud of our trained and experienced hygienists. They are serious about taking care of their patients’ teeth. And they enjoy the relationships they develop with patients over the long term.

Our registered dental hygienists specialize in thorough cleanings and patient education. Read their personal bios here.

To make an appointment to get your teeth cleaned and evaluated, call our office at 803-324-7670 or contact Cranford Dental online.

For information on your first dental visit read: Post explaining exactly what happens at your first hygiene visit. (By Betsy Oliver, RDH)

Dental Hygiene Appointment

Here is what you can expect at each teeth cleaning appointment:

• Review of dental and general health – The hygienist reviews any changes in health, including illnesses and drugs which may affect your dental health.
• Digital Radiographs (when necessary)
• Calculus Removal – The hygienists scale beneath the gum line to remove calculus (tartar). This prevents future gum problems. It is impossible to remove calculus from home.
• Flossing and Dental Maintenance – The hygienist flosses beneath the gum line. She gives instructions on flossing and caring for your teeth.
• Polishing – The hygienist polishes your teeth using special equipment and paste.
• Oral Cancer Exam – She and the dentist examine tongue, cheeks, palate, glands, and back of throat for early warning signsor oral cancer.
• Dental Exam – The dentist examines your teeth and listens to your concerns and questions.

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Our hygienists specialize in educating patients about what they need to do to prevent future problems with their teeth. Read this post if you have ever wondered what toothpaste our dentists and hygienists recommend.

Dental Hygiene: Adults, Children, Teens

At Cranford Dental we enjoy seeing every member of our dental families for regular checkups and cleanings. Children grow up coming to the dentist with dad or mom.

Our hygienists are very good at getting young adults started on a dental hygiene program. Read their recommendations for dental care for young adults.

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Please contact our office if you are looking for a dentist and hygienist to encourage your children or young adults to establish good dental habits.

 Preventing Gum Disease

Our dentists and hygienists are very concerned with detecting gum disease during regular dental hygiene visits. They probe and examine the gums at each dental visit.

Your hygienist looks for early signs of Periodontal Disease. She measures the areas under your gums to see if you have pockets or other signs of gum disease.

The hygienist is able to chart changes in pocket depth and gum health at regular intervals as patients age. This is one of the reasons we recommend regular dental visits.

Gum disease is rampant as baby boomers age. No one wants to experience the trauma of tooth loss as they get older.

The dentist recommends scaling and root planning (or deep cleaning) for patients with periodontal disease. This will clean out gum pockets so that gum disease does not progress and cause the loss of teeth.

With modern dental care, older patients should not lose their teeth as often as occurred for past generations.

Our hygienists participated in a year long study and then wrote a series of blog posts on the detection, treatment, and prevention of gum disease.  

Educate yourself on gum disease by reading the series of posts our hygienists wrote for our patients: https://cranforddental.com/category/dental-health/gum-disease/

Questions: Your Dental Cleaning

Contact Cranford Dental if you have questions or concerns about your dental health or to make an appointment. Visit our office at 1721 Ebenezer Road in Rock Hill—or call 803-324-7670.

How long for a cleaning appointment?

Allow an hour for a regular dental cleaning. We usually scedule new patients or those who have missed regular cleanings with 1 1/2 hours.

How often should I get my teeth cleaned?

The American Dental Association recommends twice yearly cleanings; however, we advise patients with healthy teeth and very good home maintenance to stretch appointments out to one a year.

Your dentist and hygienist will recommend a schedule that works best for your mouth.

When is good time or year for dental appointments?

The best time to schedule visits to the dentist is the time that works for your schedule.

Our post on best time of year to visit the dentist may help you decide when to schedule your yearly appointments.

We recommend selecting two months for yearly visits, depending on your schedule. Then stick with this schedule in future years and say on track with dental appointments.

Why not keep my teeth clean at home?

A dentist and hygienist examines for health problems, including oral cancer and gum disease. You will not be able to detect this from home.

A hyginist is trained to remove calculus that builds up under the gums. This cannot be removed at home. Ignoring this leads to bad breath, gum disease, and general health problems.

Should I see dentist or hygienist first?

We follow the lead of the patient in scheduling dental appointments. Most patients prefer to get a thorough cleaning and then meet with the dentist for a comprehensive treatment plan.

If you have a concern that needs immediate attention from the dentist, please let the office administrator know when you call the office.

Why x rays or digital images? Are they safe?

We follow ADA guidelines for digital images. With modern technology, these are very safe. The amount of radiation is negligible.

Without images we risk missing decay and other problems that may hide beneath old crowns and fillings or under the gum line.

How do I find an office that is right for me?

It is important that you feel confident and comfortable at your dentist office.

Ideally, establish a long term relationship with a dentist who will follow your dental health over a lifetime.

For help evaluating a dentist who will work well for you: Read What Makes a Good Dentist? (10 qualities, 5 warnings).

Trusted Local Rock Hill Dentist

At Cranford Dental we value our relationships with long term patient families. Patients come to our office who value preventive dentistry.

They trust our dentists and hygienists for thorough cleanings and dental exams.

Call our office at 803-324-7670 or make an appointment online if need to get your teeth cleaned.

We would love to welcome you to Cranford Dental.