What is the Difference Between a Cleaning and a Preventative Care Appointment?

Sitting in the dentist’s chair and waiting for him to poke and prod at your teeth, you’re curious to hear if you have been taking care of the pearly or not-so-pearly whites occupying the inside of your mouth. While a cleaning appointment can do your teeth some good, the best option for a better smile is really what you and your teeth deserve: a preventative care appointment.

When at home, you brush and floss your teeth (or at least you should) at least twice a day. You try to reach every tooth from front to back, attempting to get every last bit of food and plaque off your teeth. When you come to your dentist for a cleaning appointment, you’re teeth are getting the exact same treatment, though they do receive a little extra attention and cleaning during an appointment than at home.

However, this is nothing you can’t do simply by yourself: just spend a few more minutes taking care of your teeth each day. Instead, to get the most for your buck at the dentist, choose a preventative care appointment. For each individual who receives this treatment, a hygienist will thoroughly examine each tooth in the mouth (that’s a lot of teeth!) as well as therapeutically remove visible plaque and tartar on the tooth’s surface. Along with a gum and jaw joints exam, this appointment consists of two screenings: one for oral cancer and the other for sleep apnea. Lucky for you, each preventative care appointment you get provides your teeth with the same checkup and treatments!

To prevent a wasted appointment and wasted money at the dentist, opt to keep the cleaning at home; when you’re in the chair, a preventative care appointment is just what you need to get a better and brighter smile.