How can we help you?
Here at Town East Dental Group, we take a proactive, preventive approach to oral health care. By staying a step ahead of problems, we can help you avoid discomfort and costly treatment.
An essential part of prevention is patient education because we can't monitor your oral health habits 24/7, and we want you to have all the information you need to make healthier choices and informed decisions about your dental care. One of the best ways for us to understand what matters to you is by listening to your questions. You deserve to be informed about your oral health, and no question is too small – if it matters to you, it matters to us.
Here are a few of the questions we hear most often at our practice, but you may have some of your own that aren't listed here. Please call our office at (972) 270-2911 or email us using our convenient online contact form.
General Dentistry
Regular dental cleanings are a foundational element of a successful preventive care routine. These routine treatments offer a golden opportunity for your dentist to safeguard your dental and periodontal health by eliminating plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and gumline while identifying and addressing minor issues, like small cavities, well before they become big problems.
Fortunately, dental cleanings are often covered by dental insurance as a "preventive care" benefit, with most dental insurance plans providing coverage for two routine cleanings per year. These covered cleanings typically also include a full oral exam, oral cancer screening, and teeth polishing, which removes plaque and tartar buildup and helps prevent a recurrence.
How Does Coverage for Dental Cleanings Work?
Coverage for dental cleanings varies depending on the specific insurance plan. Some plans may fully cover the cost of cleanings. Others might require a co-pay or co-insurance. In some cases, plans might cover more frequent cleanings for individuals with certain conditions, like gum disease.
It's important to check your policy details to understand any limitations or exclusions that apply to your coverage. Also, always consult your insurance provider and dental office to verify coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs.
Effective and Affordable Dental Cleanings in Mesquite, TX
Are you looking for a dentist in Mesquite to help you more proactively pursue optimal oral health? Contact Dr. RJ Loera and the outstanding team at Town East Dental Group to schedule your next regular dental cleaning and oral exam!
When you leave the dentist’s office after a dental cleaning, it is a great feeling. Your teeth are free of plaque and tartar and feel silky smooth. However, you may be concerned about whether there are any risks associated with the dental cleaning process.
What Is the Dental Cleaning Process?
No amount of brushing and flossing can keep you from needing to get your teeth professionally cleaned, so your general dentist in Mesquite, TX, can help you achieve your brightest, whitest smile. When plaque builds up on your teeth, your dental professional will remove it with special tools. Then, they will polish the enamel on your teeth.
What Are the Risks of Dental Cleaning?
Although dental cleaning is highly safe, you may experience some minor side effects because of your visit. When the dentist or hygienist cleans your teeth, they remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and around your gum tissue. These side effects include:
- Sore gums
- Bleeding gums
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Noticeable gaps in your teeth from where food particles and plaque or tartar have been removed
For More Information
If you have concerns about dental cleanings in Mesquite, TX, call Town East Dental Group at (972) 270-2911.
The short answer to this question is: you should generally wait at least 30 minutes after a dental cleaning in Mesquite, TX, to eat or drink. The longer answer is to ask your dentist or dental hygienist during your next cleaning. They’ll know best. If you’ve had a fluoride treatment, they’ll probably tell you to wait 30 minutes to allow it to be fully absorbed by your teeth. Fluoride supports your teeth by helping to rebuild tooth enamel, slow down mineral loss from tooth enamel, and mitigate tooth decay.
A related question you may be pondering: Can you eat before you get your teeth cleaned? You can definitely eat before your cleaning; however, you should brush and floss thoroughly after eating to help your hygienist do their job more effectively.
Foods to Avoid Right After a Cleaning
Although you can definitely eat following a dental cleaning (after 30 minutes), there are some things you might want to avoid because cleaning makes your teeth temporarily more porous. This means your teeth will absorb stains more easily. Consider avoiding these foods and drinks for the rest of the day after your cleaning:
- Red wine
- Coffee and dark tea
- Soda
- Red sauces
- Dark berries
- Beets
- Some spices like curry
If you’re ready for a dental cleaning in Mesquite, TX, please reach out to Town East Dental Group, and we’ll get you set up!
There is nothing you need to do to prepare for a professional teeth cleaning. You can bring your smile, and we'll take care of the rest!
What to Expect During Dental Cleanings in Mesquite
Our friendly dental hygienist will remove excess plaque and bacteria from your teeth during your professional teeth cleaning. This reduces your chances of developing common dental problems like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease, as plaque buildup contributes to these problems.
Your teeth cleaning is a great time to ask your hygienist questions. They may also offer helpful suggestions or products that will help you improve your home care routine.
What Happens During the Dental Exam?
Our dentist will perform a thorough exam at every preventive appointment. He aims to identify any problematic areas of concern early on before treatment becomes more complicated.
For example, spotting tooth decay in its earliest stages allows you to treat it with less expensive and noninvasive procedures. If tooth decay is undetected or untreated, it will move deeper into the tooth until it causes an infection in the nerve. A tooth infection requires more complicated treatment, like a root canal, to eliminate the infection and preserve the tooth.
Is it time for your next dental cleaning and checkup? Contact Town East Dental Group at (972) 270-2911 for general dentistry in Mesquite, TX, you can trust!
Routine preventive treatment is essential for your continued oral health. Town East Dental Group provides professional teeth cleanings and dental exams in Mesquite, TX so your mouth is healthy and cavity-free.
What to Expect During a Dental Exam
Your dentist in Mesquite reviews your medical history and addresses any concerns you may have. He then screens for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Early detection of these conditions is key to developing less invasive and more comfortable treatment.
Your hygienist removes plaque buildup that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach, including all surfaces and in-between spots. The hygienist may also recommend oral hygiene products or techniques to improve your dental care routine.
On average, a dental exam and preventive cleaning can last 60 minutes to 90 minutes. However, this can vary depending on each patient's unique needs.
Your Smile Is Worth It!
Preventive dental appointments are a must, and they should not be forgotten or put off for another time. We believe your teeth and gums deserve the best dental care available, and our team looks forward to helping you keep them strong and beautiful.
Please call us today at (972) 270-2911 to arrange your next appointment with your dentist in Mesquite, TX 75150.
Regular dental cleanings and exams are vital to long-term dental health. As a general rule, everyone should schedule at least two dental visits annually. These trips are important because they allow a dentist to not only comprehensively clean the areas in between all of a person’s teeth and the surfaces of their teeth and gums but also to identify and address minor issues before they develop into serious problems like tooth decay or gum disease.
The Preventative Value of Regular Dental Exams and Teeth Cleanings
Regular dental exams and cleanings give your dentist a chance to identify and quickly and address minor issues that could threaten your dental health, like cavities, tooth wear, or plaque buildup. These exams can actually also prove vital to your overall health, as they also give your dentist a chance to confirm the health of the bones and muscles in your jaw and check for signs of serious issues like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, infections that could spread through your body, and oral cancers.
General Dentistry and Dental Cleanings in Mesquite, TX
If you’re in Mesquite and seeking a general dentist for your next teeth cleaning, contact dentist Dr. RJ Loera and the team at Town East Dental Group to schedule an appointment!
The central idea of general dentistry is that patients in Mesquite, TX, can find a full range of dental services, from preventive to restorative and cosmetic dentistry, in one location. Here are some of the most prominent services we offer at Town East Dental Group in each area.
Dental Cleanings and Exams Are Essential Preventive Services
Routine preventive treatments like dental exams and professional cleanings are essential because we can prevent or discover problems early. For example, we screen you for tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities at each exam.
During your professional dental cleaning, one of our hygienists eliminates the extra plaque buildup that may be hard to reach home. We also may recommend changes to your at-home routine if we spot a concern. A dental cleaning is also a great way to prepare for professional teeth whitening.
Restorative Dental Care Fixes Teeth Problems
When teeth become damaged due to dental decay, gum disease, or accidents, we have the experience and expertise to repair that damage and keep your natural tooth intact. Two of the most common tooth restorations we offer are:
- Tooth-colored fillings to discretely treat tooth cavities
- Tooth crowns for broken, damaged, or decayed teeth
Cosmetic Dentistry to Make Healthy Teeth More Beautiful
When you’ve cared for your teeth so that they are healthy, we can help them look better as well. For example, we offer GLO Teeth Whitening with prescription-strength whitening agents for a simple, non-intrusive way to achieve a whiter smile.
Routine dental cleanings are part of preventative maintenance, which is key to ensuring that your mouth stays healthy even as you age. Oral health can affect the total health of your body in many ways. Just being able to eat easily makes a big
difference in our quality of life.
Routine cleanings are critical to oral health because they can do things that your regular at-home care cannot. For hard built-on tartar around the gumline and clinging to the surface of the teeth, brushing and flossing won't help. Only a professional cleaning will remove that buildup and help your gums and teeth stay healthy and strong.
What Happens At My Dental Cleaning?
Check-ups also allow your dentist time to monitor your oral health. Meeting with your dentist in Mesquite for twice a year check-ups and cleanings will help ensure any issues that may come up with your oral health are caught before they have a chance to do significant harm.
Cleanings help allow your gums to function correctly by helping them regain direct contact with the surface of your teeth. Routine cleanings will also make your teeth look cleaner and healthier. Cleanings can help prevent gum disease, cavities, halitosis, and more.
Contact Us To Book Your Dental Cleaning
Contact us today if you are ready to schedule a cleaning with a local Mesquite, TX dentist near you.
We usually recommend preventive dental cleanings every six months to maintain healthy teeth and gums. During these appointments, your hygienist checks your gums for any signs of gum disease, then thoroughly cleans, flosses, and polishes your teeth.
But sometimes a gum infection has a chance to develop beyond what a regular cleaning can resolve. Pockets open up between your teeth and gums and provide a place for bacteria to collect and continue to damage your oral health. In this case, your hygienist would recommend a deep cleaning, which you may also hear referred to as scaling and root planing.
During this procedure, the hygienist skillfully removes plaque and tartar that cling to your teeth and eventually lead to gum disease. Then your hygienist planes or smooths the root surfaces so that healthy gum tissue can reattach to the tooth.
We usually perform scaling and root planing under local anesthesia, and the procedure is often broken down into a couple of visits to minimize any discomfort. Your hygienist may also recommend more frequent cleanings in the future until we know that your gum disease is under control.
If you would like to schedule an exam for a preventive dental cleaning, please call Town East Dental Group to arrange an appointment with one of our experienced hygienists.
Your teeth were meant to last a lifetime, which makes dental care something you’ll need for many years. With this commitment, you are wise to ensure you build a consistent and trusting relationship with an experienced and local general dentist. An excellent general dentist provides the full range of dental services, from preventive to restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
Regardless of your particular needs, Town East Dental Group has the knowledge, tools, and experience to provide solutions for patients in Mesquite, TX, and the surrounding communities of Garland, Rowlett, Sunnyvale, White Rock Lake, and Little Forest Hills.
Types of Dental Services under General Dentistry
Preventive dentistry is truly the backbone of good oral health because your regular exams and cleanings allow us to detect potential problems early, which usually means the solutions are more straightforward for us to implement. But if you do have a more advanced dental challenge, we can provide restorative services like tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns, bridges, or dentures.
If you have achieved robust oral health, you may also want to improve the look of your smile. Your general dentist should offer cosmetic services like professional teeth whitening, dental veneers, and dental implants so your smile may look brand new.
Another benefit of Town East Dental Group as your general dentist is our emergency dental services. In case of an accident or unforeseen problem, it’s reassuring that you know who to call and can trust that they’ll provide care when you need it most.