Dental Cleanings

Dental Cleanings for Children

Dr. Heather Rhoads Pfefferle works with patients of all ages and knows how to help children to feel comfortable while visiting the dentist. We recommend that teeth cleanings and exams start from a very young age. This is important for ensuring that baby teeth grow in properly and stay healthy until the adult teeth are ready to come in.

While cleaning children’s teeth, our staff has been trained to take it slowly and practice gentle dentistry. By building a rapport with our young patients, they will feel more relaxed during their dental appointments and visiting the dentist becomes fun instead of intimidating. We also recommend that parents take the time to read stories about going to the dentist and play games by teaching children how to examine their toy’s teeth.

Preventing Dental Emergenices

Regularly scheduled dental cleaning and examinations in the 49686 area can help to prevent a dental emergency. Many adults go far too long in between visits to the dentist. As a year or two goes by, infections can develop that can create a painful situation and lead to dental emergencies. For example, a minor cavity can be corrected with minimal discomfort but if the infection spreads into the center of the tooth the dental pulp can become infected and a root canal will become necessary. Fortunately, these types of infections can typically be avoided by scheduling an appointment twice a year with Dr. Heather Rhoads Pfefferle.

Dental Cleanings for Adults

We recommend that adults throughout Traverse City MI have their teeth cleaned twice a year, as well. Good oral health is important regardless of how old you are and as people age, their risk for an oral infection continues to increase. This is in part because, as teeth age, the protective enamel starts to wear away, and it can become easier to get a cavity. The best way to combat this is by brushing and flossing throughout the day in addition to visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

Dental Cleanings for Sensitive Teeth

At Cherry Bay Dental, Dr. Heather Rhoads Pfefferle practices gentle dentistry and provides teeth cleanings for patients with sensitive teeth. Many adults avoid visiting the dentist because they are concerned that their teeth will hurt or feel worse during the exam or subsequent cleaning. When working with the right dentist, you can feel comfortable regardless of how sensitive your teeth are.

Dental Education

While getting your teeth cleaned and examined, we will also discuss ways that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy at home. At Cherry Bay Dental, we believe that good oral hygiene at home is important to do in conjunction with visiting our office. We recommend that you use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day and use fluoride toothpaste. This will keep harmful sugar and bacteria off of your teeth and the fluoride will help to strengthen them. You should also floss daily to get food particles and bacteria out of hard-to-reach places. Following up with an antibacterial mouthwash will help to kill any remaining germs.