Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Tewksbury, MA

Protect Your Smile with Regular Checkups

Treatment chair at dentist’s office

While your daily oral hygiene regimen is your first line of defense against nasty oral health problems like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease, it’s impossible for you to properly clean some of the areas of your mouth without the help of a trained professional. That’s why Shawsheen Family Dental offers the Tewksbury community dental checkups and cleanings designed to prevent, detect, and address oral health issues and help patients understand how to keep their teeth in great shape. Here’s a quick look at how routine dental appointments work at our office, so please feel free to schedule your next visit at your convenience.

Why Choose Shawsheen Family Dental for Dental Checkups & Cleanings

  • Experienced and Compassionate Dentist
  • Prevent and Address Destructive Oral Infections
  • We Welcome Dental Insurance

Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?

Man smiles while driving

While it may seem tempting to skip a dental checkup if your mouth feels fine and you can’t detect any troubling oral health symptoms, neglecting your routine dental appointments can allow unseen issues to fester until they cause permanent damage. While most dental insurance plans cover biannual dental checkups and cleanings completely, restorative work like fillings and crowns is usually covered by 50% to 80%. Since regular dental checkups can prevent painful and destructive oral infections, they can save you vast sums of money while keeping your smile comfortable, beautiful, and functional.

What to Expect During a Dental Checkup

Dental hygienist smiles

During a routine dental checkup, Dr. Bustillo-Gonzalez and her skilled team will:

  • Carefully inspect your teeth, gums bite alignment, and existing dental work like crowns, fillings, bridges, and implants.
  • Thoroughly screen your soft tissues for symptoms of oral cancer.
  • Take X-rays when necessary, usually at least once a year.
  • Design a customized treatment plan if any issues are detected.
  • Answer any questions you have about how you can take care of your teeth.
  • Review your medical history and list of medications and update them if necessary.

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

Man smiles at dental hygienist

Even if you brush and floss every day, there are certain areas of your mouth that are too difficult to reach for you to clean them at home. During your dental cleaning at our Tewksbury office, our team will carefully remove plaque, tartar, and food residue from your teeth and gumline using specialized instruments to prevent oral infections and bad breath. Then, we will polish your teeth to remove minor surface stains before thoroughly flossing them. However, we may need to schedule you for a deep cleaning if you have advanced oral infections like periodontitis.

Dental Checkup & Cleaning FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Exam?

A regular dental exam is completed by your dentist and involves an oral cancer screening and a visual examination of your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues. Your dentist also examines your teeth for signs of decay, bite problems, and other concerns. They will look at your existing dental work, including dental crowns, bridges, and dentures. Typically, the exam portion of your checkup will usually take about 10 to 15 minutes.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Cleaning?

If you don’t have gum disease or signs of gum disease, and you go to the dentist every six months, you will likely only require a regular dental cleaning. For those with good, at-home dental hygiene, your cleaning should only take about 30 minutes. If you require a deeper cleaning due to tartar buildup, this may take longer or even require multiple visits since it is a multi-step process. Ultimately, the length of your cleaning depends on your oral health status.

How Often Should I Receive Oral Cancer Screenings?

During each of your dental checkups, your dentist or hygienist will conduct an oral cancer screening. This should only take a few minutes, and they can help to identify any signs of abnormalities and ensure that you receive follow-up care or testing if needed. First, your dentist or hygienist will feel the outside of your face, including your neck and jaw area for signs of lumps or bumps. They will also feel the inside of your lips and look in your mouth for abnormalities, like red and white rough patients and oral sores that haven’t healed in over two weeks. If we spot anything that could be a sign of oral cancer, we will refer you to a specialist for further testing.

I Haven’t Been to the Dentist in Years! What Can I Expect?

Whether time has passed you by, you haven’t had insurance, or anxiety has been holding you back, the more difficult step is making the call to schedule your missing. Just remember that it is one of the best things you can do for your oral health. If it has been a long time since your last visit, you can expect your cleaning and exam to take a little bit longer since there will be more tartar and plaque to remove. Your dentist will speak with you about any concerns that you are having so they can be addressed. Don’t forget to schedule your next visit before you leave!