Dental Exams & Cleanings

Cosmetic & General Dentist in Silver Spring, MD

A healthy, beautiful smile is an asset you carry with you everywhere you go – and to keep your smile as healthy and gorgeous as can be, you need to keep your teeth and gums clean. At City Place Dental, we are a premier dental and orthodontic practice committed to serving patients throughout the Silver Spring, MD area with comprehensive, high-quality dental and orthodontic care. We strive to take a holistic approach to dental and orthodontic health, designing personalized, comprehensive treatment plans to help each one of our patients achieve the smile of their dreams. While we're proud to offer corrective and orthodontic services like composite fillings and braces, one of the most important parts of maintaining a healthy smile is routine dental care – and that all rests on regular dental examinations and teeth cleanings.

Dental Exams

Dental examinations are a critical part of maintaining a healthy smile, and they're important for ensuring that your teeth stay healthy and no dental diseases develop unnoticed. We'll perform a comprehensive dental exam at your first appointment with us, and we'll also perform exams regularly as a part of your checkup appointments. During a dental examination, we'll do all of the following:

  • X-Rays: First, we'll review your dental x-rays to look for anomalies like tooth decay, cysts, tumors, or jawbone loss. X-rays give us a full picture of the teeth and jaws, so we'll also look to make sure the roots of your teeth are normal and healthy. If you don't have x-rays that are current, we'll take new ones at your appointment.

  • Oral Cancer Check: The most important part of fighting cancer is early detection and treatment, so when you come in for an appointment, we'll also check your face, throat, neck, lips, tongue, and gums for any signs of oral cancer. If we find anything that looks suspicious, we'll refer a specialist.

  • Gum Disease Check: We'll perform a thorough evaluation of your gums to see if you have any signs of gingivitis or more advanced gum disease, and we'll also check to see if your gum line is receding at all.

  • Tooth Decay Check: We'll examine every area of your teeth to look for plaque, tartar, decay, and cavities.

  • Any Dental Work or Restorations: If you've had restorative dental procedures in the past like crowns or fillings, we'll examine those to ensure they look normal and healthy. If we find any problems, we'll talk to you about repairing them.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

After your dental exam, it's time for a professional dental cleaning. This will be performed by one of our registered dental hygienists, and it's a critical part of keeping your mouth healthy and preventing tooth decay. During your cleaning, we'll do all of the following:

  • Remove Plaque: Bacteria occur naturally in the mouth, but if they're left on the teeth for long enough, they can grow together and form a sticky biofilm called plaque. Plaque adheres to the surface of the teeth and produces corrosive acids that eat away at the teeth and inflame the gums, eventually causing dental decay, cavities, and gum disease. We'll use a variety of dental instruments to remove any plaque from your teeth.

  • Remove Calculus (Tartar): Sometimes, if plaque is left on the teeth long enough, it can combine with minerals in the mouth to form calculus, a harder substance that's firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus is impossible to remove without special dental instruments, so we'll carefully clean off any signs of calculus from your teeth.

  • Polishing: After cleaning your teeth of any bacteria, plaque, or calculus, we'll polish your teeth to remove staining and leave them shiny and clean.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Silver Spring, MD Dentist & Orthodontist

Image of smiling male patient

A professional dental exam and cleaning is the only way to completely clean your mouth, and regular checkups like this are a foundational part of your dental hygiene regimen. With daily brushing and flossing, regular dental check up appointments, and a watchful eye to the health of your teeth, you can keep your teeth and smile looking healthy and beautiful for your entire life. If you have any questions about maintaining proper dental health or would like to schedule a dental exam and cleaning for yourself or a loved one, we would be happy to help you. Give us a call at (301) 585-1515 if you have any questions, or if you'd like to come by for an appointment, just reach out to us at our contact page or request an appointment online at our Silver Spring, MD office.


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SAME DAY EMERGENCY

8780 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301) 585-1515

Monday8am to 5pm
Tuesday8am to 5pm
Wednesday8am-8pm
Thursday9am to 1pm - Emergencies only
Friday8am to 5pm
Saturday8am to 3pm
SundayClosed

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