Dental Exam and Check-Up
Arlington VA

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Dental Exam and Standard Check-Up

A dental appointment should not be reserved for when you are experiencing tooth pain or had an accident. On the contrary, consistent preventative dental exams and check-ups are the best way to prevent emergency appointments resulting from cavities, gum pain or infections. Some emergencies cannot be prevented when an accident is involved. All other oral health issues can be diagnosed early and treated eliminating future problems.

A regular and consistently scheduled dental exam and checkup can go a long way in maintaining good preventative oral health care. They also are the best way to prevent emergency appointments from cavities, gum pain or infections. Unlike an accident, many issues like tooth decay, oral cancer and root canals can all be detected early at a dental exam and treated without future problems.

The team at Cherrydale Family Dental is conscientious in our efforts in working with all members of your family, from infant to teenager to parents to grandparents. Patience is certainly a virtue in our fast-paced society today. Our team finds enjoys in healthy smiles of all ages. If you have any questions regarding a dental exam and a check-up, simply call Cherrydale Family Dental at 703-243-8288. You can find us at 4399 Old Dominion Drive, Arlington, VA, 22312.

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START YOUR SMILE
WITH CHERRYDALE DENTAL TODAY

Who Should See A Dentist for Regular Exams?

The short answer is everyone. All members of your family, from the child with baby teeth to the grandparents with dentures, should regularly see us at very minimum every six months. This compliments their twice daily at home dental cleaning routine. Children as highly susceptible to cavities and their baby teeth need supervision to make sure they are growing in correctly without disease or decay. Even though children eventually lose their baby teeth, those first set are just as important as their later, more permanent teeth.

Regarding the adult members of your family, routine dental exams, check-ups, and cleanings are important habits to start and maintain throughout your life. As you age your risk for oral infection increases. As your teeth age, the enamel thins and weakens making the tooth more susceptible to cavities. At home oral hygiene habits are crucial. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day will help keep your mouth healthy, but we can be your backup as we perform a more thorough cleaning and screen for more serious oral issues.

What to Expect at a Regular Dental Exam and Check-up?

During your visit to Cherrydale Family Dental, we will examine your mouth with various pieces of equipment and specialized dental hand tools. These will help us perform a thorough cleaning of your teeth and mouth and execute various examinations of different aspects of your mouth for possible disease.

  • Tooth decay- We will check each tooth for weakened enamel, cracks or areas of serious plaque buildup which are signs of decay and eventual cavities or infection.
  • Gum disease – We will look closely at your gums and the teeth near the gum line to check for periodontal disease.
  • X-rays- These images allow us to see what is going on below the surface of your teeth. X-rays will show us how dense a tooth is, how the root looks below the gum line, and if there are any tumors, growths, cysts, or places of decay. Once we have more than one set of x-rays to compare from prior visits to the current visit, we can continue to build a more complete set of data to monitor your dental health.
  • Existing restorations- We will check any fillings, crowns, or other tooth restorations for signs of serious wear and tear allowing for any infection or future issues.
  • Oral cancer screening- Our staff will closely scrutinize your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, lips, and throat for signs of cancer or abnormal growths to biopsy or to investigate further.
  • Education- Our staff will also review with you the best ways to keep your mouth healthy at home from how to brush and floss to which areas of your mouth may need more attention. We can even review with you tips to keep your mouth healthy. This might include avoiding sugar, adequate water intake and foods to eat the nutrients you need to keep a strong, healthy smile.

More on Deep Teeth Cleaning

Sometimes adults who exercise good habits by brushing and flossing twice a day, visiting us twice a year, and maintain healthy diets still run into problems with gum disease. When we detect gum disease in one or more areas of the mouth at a check-up, we will recommend a more thorough cleaning. This process involves cleaning the teeth below the gum line with special tools. This is also referred to as a scaling and root planing and it removes tartar buildup, debris, and bacteria from below the gums which is causing the inflammation of the gum. If the gum inflammation and infection, or gingivitis, is not addressed it can progress quickly and lead to more serious stages of gum disease which include tooth and bone loss.

Keeping Your Dental Visits to a Minimum

No one can avoid the dentist all together, but you can absolutely keep your visits to a minimum as the industry suggests. You begin with brushing at home twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and soft brush. Flossing as a part of your twice daily routine helps address the hard to reach areas between the teeth to remove unwanted plaque buildup. Sometimes it can be beneficial to rinse with a mouth wash or antibacterial rinse to help the gums stay healthy and disease free. Eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and avoiding high sugar and high acid foods will help keep out of the dentist’s chair.

Dental Cleaning & Examination Costs

Costs for each procedure vary depending on how long the procedure takes, what materials the procedure requires, and the amount of work the dentist is required to do. Dental insurance plans will cover some of the costs for dental exams and check-ups from an overall health perspective and for the preventative measures that yield long term benefits. Our office staff will assist you in checking with your insurance company to review your coverage for these preventative procedures. We do offer Care Credit, so talking with our financial coordinator to assess your options is another helpful step to restoring your healthy smile within your budget.

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Quality Dental Care for ALL Family Members

At Cherrydale Family Dental, 4399 Old Dominion Dr., Arlington, VA, we work painstakingly to develop trustful and long-standing relationships with each patient. We see more than a smile, teeth, and gums when you enter our office. We see a patient that will hopefully become a trusting member of our family. We want to contribute and participate in helping you maintain good oral health to the best of your ability. We will always look forward to seeing you and discussing what is best for you and your smile. Please contact us at 703-243-8288 to discuss the benefits of consistent and preventative dental exams and check-ups to improve your quality of life.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SMILE TODAY?

Modern dentistry techniques, affordable prices and financial options make it easier than ever for you to have a bright and healthy smile. We are currently accepting new patients and we would love to help you get the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

Call us at (703) 243-8288 to book an appointment OR easily using the button below.