Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental care isn’t just about treating problems—it’s about preventing them from starting in the first place. For this reason, Dr. Desai recommends exams and teeth cleanings every six months for all ages, including children.
Our goal at Desai Family Dentistry in Hempstead, NY, is to ensure your family enjoys happy, healthy smiles for a lifetime. We love welcoming patients of all ages, and our team speaks fluent Spanish to communicate clearly with every member of your family.
What Happens during a Dental Exam?
Routine dental checkups allow us to get to know you and learn about your goals and desires for your smile. These appointments are also perfect for you to ask Dr. Desai your questions about your family’s dental needs.
Every six-month dental checkup with Dr. Desai includes the following:
- Checking each tooth to ensure it’s healthy and cavity-free
- Checking the condition of dental work like crowns and fillings
- Examining your gums for signs of gum disease
- Performing an oral cancer screening
- Taking dental x-rays as needed
We want you to be informed about your oral health needs, so Dr. Desai uses an intraoral camera to show you close-up images of your teeth and gums. You can see what he sees, and if he spots a problem, he can show you and explain what treatment would resolve it.
How Dental Checkups Benefit Your Family
The benefit of seeing you routinely is finding problems like cavities or broken teeth early on when they are small and easy to treat. We care about your family’s health, comfort, and well-being, and early treatment helps prevent problems from worsening and leading to costly or involved dental work.
Why Professional Teeth Cleanings Are Important
Dr. Desai also recommends teeth cleanings every six months to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque is a sticky film that consists of bacteria, saliva, and food particles and builds up on tooth surfaces.
At-home hygiene removes some plaque, but your brush and floss can’t reach every tooth surface. Plaque that remains on your teeth gradually turns into a hard substance called tartar that only a dentist or hygienist can remove using specialized instruments.
What Does a Teeth Cleaning Include?
During your dental cleanings, Dr. Desai performs the following:
- Checks for signs of gum disease
- Removes plaque, tartar, and surfaces stains and polishes your teeth
- Reviews ways you can improve your at-home oral hygiene routine
- Demonstrates proper brushing and flossing techniques
- Reviews your diet and explain how it affects your teeth and gums
The general recommendation for teeth cleanings is every six months, but we will personalize your hygiene schedule to fit your needs. For example, those with healthy teeth and gums may require fewer cleanings each year, while those with gum disease require more frequent visits.
If Dr. Desai finds signs of gum disease, he will explain the importance of treating it, then customize a plan to restore your oral health.
Is Your Family Due for Their Next Dental Exam?
We welcome new patients of all ages to Desai Family Dentistry and would love to get to know your family. Our goal is to become your partner in dental health and provide everything your family needs to enjoy excellent oral health for life.
Please call us at (516) 481-8906 to schedule your family’s next dental exam. We serve patients from all over Long Island, including Hempstead and Garden City, NY.
