TEETH CLEANINGS IN Watertown

Everyone should clean their teeth at home by regularly flossing and brushing. However, there are spaces in our mouths that are difficult to clean on our own, which is why we all need to have our teeth professional cleaned every few months by a dental hygienist. As a dental hygiene practice, our job is to keep our patients oral health in check. We do this by providing our patients with an oral exam and thorough cleaning of their mouths. A dental cleaning involves the removal of plaque, polishing, and instructing on proper oral care from home.


To break it down further, a dental cleaning helps remove excess plaque from hard-to-reach places in our mouths. Plaque is a mostly invisible sticky film of bacteria that forms on our teeth when we eat and drink. The bacteria in plaque acts as an acid that can decay tooth enamel and cause cavities.

If left untreated, plaque turns to tartar, and tartar can form a shield overtop of our gums that can cause inflammation, which can cause bleeding and the gumline to be pushed down, which in turn causes tooth sensitivity and even tooth and bone loss.


We understand that there are patients who do not wish to come into the office, for one reason or another. Typically, patients tend to skip dental visits due to anxiety, dental pain, income, or the lack of dental insurance. These are all valid reasons that our hygiene practice can address with you on your next visit as it is even more important to care for your health, which includes your oral health. Please call our office if you have certain care requirements.

Tooth Desensitization and Fluoride Treatment

If a taste of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee is sometimes a painful experience for you, then you most likely suffer from sensitive teeth. Dental sensitivity is very common amongst adults and there are many reasons why teeth become sensitive. Most often, it is due to root exposure. We offer treatment to decrease that sensitivity with minimal to no discomfort by applying a fluoride gel or other desensitizing agents to your teeth. This process is simple and can have long lasting affects on the strength of your enamel and the transmission of painful sensations to the nerves of your teeth. Usually, tooth sensitivity occurs because of bone loss, vigorous brushing, clenching/grinding of teeth, acid wear on teeth, smoking, periodontal surgery, cancer treatment, and dry mouth.


Fluoride is used to help prevent tooth decay and is usually recommended for children up to 18-years old but is determined by your oral health. Fluoride treatment helps if you have a history of tooth-decay or sensitivity around your teeth and gums, and also helps by strengthening the enamel on your teeth.

Oral Assessments

An oral assessment is a complete review of the condition of your mouth and teeth. Once the assessment is complete, we offer advice and counseling and provide a treatment plan on how to maintain or improve any oral health concerns we find, which include a recommendation you could take to a dentist or other dental specialist for further assessment, evaluation, and treatment.

Dry Mouth

Many patients that require chemo or radiation therapy, or who take certain types of medication, can face saliva reduction, which contributes to higher acidity and bacteria levels, and can increase chances of tooth decay. For these patients, we recommended fluoride trays. Our dental hygiene practice fabricates custom trays and provides fluoride gel to help prevent the adverse affects of dry mouth.

Oral Cancer Screening

An oral cancer screening is a routine examination that is done at each dental hygiene visit. We educate our patients about the importance of following up with a dentist and medical doctor for any visual lesions, lumps, or bumps that may be observed during the screening.


The first step in screening for oral cancer is the completion of the patient’s history, which includes a review of:

  • General health history, including a list of current medications and medication allergies.
  • Oral and lifestyle habits, with reference to quantity, frequency, and duration of tobacco use and alcohol consumption.
  • Symptoms of oral pain or discomfort.


Extraoral examination:

  • Inspect the head and neck region for asymmetry, tenderness, or swelling.
  • Palpate the submandibular, neck, and supraclavicular regions for lymph nodes, paying close attention to size, number, tenderness, and mobility.
  • Inspect and palpate the lips and perioral tissues for abnormalities.


Intraoral examination:

  • Systematically inspect and palpate all oral soft tissues, paying close attention to the high-risk sites for the development of oral cancer including the lateral and ventral aspects of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and the soft palate complex.
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