Preventive Dentistry

Dental Exams, Oral Health and Screening

Dental Exams & Professional Cleanings

Regular dental exams are an essential component of preventive dental health care. A conscientious approach to dental hygiene at home is important, but regularly scheduled professional cleanings are also critical to prevent plaque buildup, maintain gum health, and detect any problems early on.

When to Have a Dental Exam

We follow The American Dental Hygienists’ Association recommendation to schedule dental exams every six months. This schedule offers us the best approach to help you maintain optimal preventive dental health.

What to Expect During a Dental Exam

During a dental exam, we clean your teeth and check for gum inflammation or bone loss. We will also evaluate your risk for developing tooth decay or other oral health problems, as well as check your face, neck and mouth for abnormalities.

Specifically, we will:

• Remove any stains or deposits on your teeth
• Assess your overall dental health and oral hygiene
• Evaluate your risk of tooth decay and gum or bone disease
• Determine the need for tooth restoration or replacement
• Check for bite or jaw problems
• Take dental X-rays or do other diagnostic procedures if necessary

Dr. Hollis or your hygienist may also discuss other matters such as diet, oral hygiene habits, smoking or other lifestyle choices that may impact your oral health.

Oral Health Impacts Overall Health

Studies show that your oral health greatly impacts your overall health. For this reason, during your exam we will gather details regarding any health conditions or medications that might affect your oral health.  You may be at increased risk for gum disease or tooth decay if you have a specific health condition or take certain medications.

Digital X-rays

Dental X-rays are vital to the evaluation of your oral health, allowing Dr. Hollis to see detailed images of your mouth.

Our practice uses digital X-rays, providing greater accuracy and convenience with less radiation exposure for our patients.

Oral Cancer Screening

In early development, oral cancer sometimes shows no physical symptoms at all—therefore, patients may not even be aware of the disease’s presence. It’s important to have routine, professional oral cancer screenings.

Our oral cancer screening is a short, painless evaluation.  Dr. Hollis or your hygienist will look at the entire inside of your mouth to check for red or white patches or mouth sores.  We will also check your neck and the tissues in your mouth for lumps or other abnormalities.

Office Policy

Payment is due at time of service. As a courtesy, our office will submit insurance claims in order to maximize dental benefit.

We request 24 hour notice for an appointment cancellation.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call us at (518) 584-1400.