Regular Care to Protect Your Beautiful Smile

Routine dental checkups and cleanings are the most important general dentistry services that we provide. Your biannual visits can keep your smile bright and healthy for years to come, while allowing us to find and treat issues early, before they mature.

Your Dental Appointment

At your appointment, your hygienist will clean and polish your teeth, and Dr. Dooley will conduct a thorough dental examination. Using our advanced DIAGNOdent® cavity detection tool, he will search for the early signs of decay. This laser device will reveal areas of fluorescence in your teeth, and these areas can indicate decay. If necessary, we will also take digital X-ray images, which yield extremely sharp images and emanate up to 80% less radiation than traditional X-rays.

Since your teeth are not the only important part of your oral health, our team will also check your gums, looking for inflammation, which could indicate gum disease. Dr. Dooley will also conduct an oral cancer screening. If he notices any sores or red patches, he may recommend further examination, such as a biopsy, from a specialist.

The Importance of Routine Dental Care

Regular dental checkups and cleanings are vital to your healthy smile. The cleaning will remove the harmful plaque and tartar that will eventually lead to decay. Even if you have stellar at-home hygiene, you will still need professional treatment to eliminate these harmful substances. Additionally, DIAGNOdent® can prevent serious structural damage by revealing decay early on. With timely diagnosis, Dr. Dooley can typically treat decay with a simple dental filling.

It is also important to receive regular gum exams. Periodontal disease can cause significant dental damage, including widespread tooth loss. Fortunately, when we catch the disease early, we can often save your smile and prevent the need for more extensive restorative dental care. In the initial stages, known as gingivitis, a thorough dental cleaning is usually enough to eliminate oral bacteria. In the later stages, we may recommend scaling and root planning (a deep cleaning). Finally, oral cancer screenings are also vital. Although this disease is serious, you can have a significantly more positive outlook when it is detected and treated early.

Do You Need to Schedule a Dental Checkup and Cleaning?

We usually recommend that you have a routine checkup and dental cleaning every six months. To schedule your next checkup and cleaning, call Scott Dooley Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-495-8100.

We also proudly serve the residents of Dallas, Richardson, Wylie, Sachse, and all surrounding communities. Patients of all ages can benefit from regular treatment. Children should start to have routine dental visits about six months after their first teeth come in. Please note that, although biannual exams are the norm, we may recommend more frequent appointments. For example, if you have been diagnosed with gum disease, or if you have a history of decay, we may suggest that you come in three to four times a year.