Cleanings & Exams
Pasco, WA

Woman talking to dentist during dental exam in Pasco, WA office.

As a general rule of thumb, most dental and health organizations agree that people should go to the dentist twice a year for cleanings and exams. The frequency of your visits depends on your hygiene, habits, and medical conditions. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums every day, you should still visit Bagley Dental at regular intervals.

The goal of professional cleanings and exams is to prevent oral health issues before they lead to more serious complications. Many oral health issues do not become visible or cause pain until they are in the more advanced stages. By this point, you may need extensive restorative treatment. With professional cleanings and exams, we can diagnose early signs of tooth decay and oral disease while these issues are at a more manageable stage.

People who are at high risk for dental problems should schedule appointments at more frequent intervals. This includes smokers, diabetics, pregnant women, patients with weak immune responses, patients prone to cavities, and patients with gum disease. If you are of exemplary oral health, you may be fine just visiting our office once a year.

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

In most cases, your dental cleaning will be performed by our registered dental hygienist. If you have a history of oral health issues, or we discover a new problem during your appointment, then you may need to receive treatments beyond the following. A dental cleaning at our office includes:

•	The removal of plaque - Plaque is the result of a thin biofilm that is constantly forming on the surfaces of our teeth. The bacteria found in plaque will grow by feeding of the starches and sugars in your diet. When plaque is not removed, the bacteria will produce toxins that eat away at the enamel and cause infection of the gum tissues. This infection is known as gum disease. Plaque build-up can be tough to completely remove from the surfaces of your teeth without a professional cleaning.
•	The removal of tartar - When plaque is left untreated, the build-up will eventually calcify into tartar. Tartar is much tougher to remove from the surfaces of your teeth. Tartar exists both above and below the gumline, and can only be removed with the use of professional dental instruments, like an ultrasonic scaler.
•	Polishing your teeth - After our hygienist has properly removed all of your plaque and tartar, we will polish your teeth. This is the final step of your cleaning. Our polish will help remove the final traces of plaque and eliminate minor stains. Polish also helps restore the sheen of your teeth, giving you a bright, beautiful smile.

What to Expect During a Dental Exam

J. Andrew Bagley DDS or W. Ryan Bagley DDS will tailor your exam to fit your individual needs. However, most exams will include the following:

•	An examination of the teeth, gum tissues, and existing restorations
•	One or more x-rays to help us detect cavities, cysts, bone loss, and tumors
•	A screening for oral cancer where we look at your throat, face, tongue, neck, lips, and other tissues
•	A screening for gum disease to check for signs of gingivitis or periodontitis

Schedule Your Appointment Now!

Call (509) 547-1631, to talk to one of our team members and schedule your appointment!

Contact Us

Bagley Dental
4904 Convention Drive
Pasco, WA 99301-9023

(509) 547-1631

receptionist@bagleydental.com

Office Hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Every Other Friday

7:30am-5:00pm
7:30am-5:00pm
7:30am-5:00pm
7:30am-5:00pm
7:30am-5:00pm