A routine dental visit should tell you more than whether your teeth feel clean when you leave. It should give you a current picture of your teeth, gums, existing dental work, and any changes that deserve attention.
At our Sandy Springs office, preventive exams may include digital X-rays, intraoral photographs, periodontal probing, and an oral cancer screening. Professional cleanings use ultrasonic and hand-scaling instruments, with Prophy powder-jet air polishing as appropriate.
This page covers routine preventive exams and hygiene visits. Patients pursuing a Smile Makeover or Full-Mouth Rehabilitation use a separate Comprehensive Exam pathway for those more involved treatment plans.
What Is Included in a Preventive Dental Exam?
The diagnostic portion of the visit gives the dentist a current view of your teeth, gums, and oral health. Depending on the evaluation, the records and checks may include:
- Digital dental X-rays
- Intraoral photographs
- Periodontal probing
- Oral cancer screening
- Professional hygiene prophylaxis
Periodontal Probing Checks the Health of the Gums
Periodontal probing records the depth of the spaces around the teeth and helps the clinical team evaluate whether routine preventive hygiene is appropriate or whether deeper periodontal treatment should be discussed. If scaling and root planing is indicated, that treatment is handled separately from a routine cleaning.
How We Remove Plaque, Tartar, and Surface Stain
Our hygiene workflow uses a combination of ultrasonic scaling units and hand-scaling instruments. Prophy powder-jet air polishing may also be used, particularly for external staining from coffee, tea, or tobacco.
A routine visit should pair a thorough professional cleaning with the diagnostic information the dentist needs to evaluate your current oral health.
When Gum Disease Requires More Than a Routine Cleaning
If the periodontal evaluation shows that deeper subgingival cleaning and pocket management are needed, the team may recommend scaling and root planing instead of treating the visit as routine preventive hygiene. The recommendation is based on the periodontal findings from your examination.
Routine Cleaning and Exam Questions
Can air polishing help with surface stains?
Yes. Prophy powder-jet air polishing is used specifically for external staining such as coffee, tea, and tobacco stains.
What if I need a deep cleaning instead?
If the periodontal findings call for deeper subgingival cleaning and pocket management, scaling and root planing is available as a separate periodontal service.
Preventive Visits Should Create a Useful Baseline
A cleaning and preventive exam should give you both professional hygiene and a clear diagnostic picture. If the findings point to a different level of care, we will explain the next step rather than treating every visit the same way.