Your regularly scheduled check-up is often referred to as a "cleaning", but there is much more to it than that! The technical term is oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of oral disease.

One way to prevent oral disease is to remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus) both above and below the gum line. You will be given special instructions on brushing or flossing to keep clean the areas where we found significant buildup. That is the familiar "cleaning" part of your checkup.

Another way to prevent oral disease is by early detection and treatment. During your checkup you will be screened for many potential threats to your oral health, including: Cavities Gum Disease Oral cancer

It's easy to tell which tooth has been "cleaned" in this photo!