Dental Hygiene/Exams

Regular Visits to Hicks Family Dentistry are Vital in Preventing Dental Problems

By visiting Hicks Family Dentistry every six months for a dental hygiene appointment, you significantly reduce your risk for many diseases, as well as cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and halitosis.  

During your cleaning and exam appointment, our team will make you comfortable while we review your charts and history. We’ll discuss any worries or concerns you have and plan the cleaning accordingly.  

What Happens During a Cleaning-and-Exam Visit?

Our skilled, gentle hygienists, along with Dr. Hicks, will perform a variety of exams and activities during your visit.

Periodontal Exam

We look for any indications of disease or a need for special treatment. This can include any redness or swelling on your gums, teeth moving away from gums, and plaque build-up. 

Restoration Exam

We check manually and through photos and x-rays to make sure that you don’t need any implants, crowns or bridges on teeth that may have decay.

Intra-oral Photos

We are one of the few dentists in the area to use a revolutionary 3D iTero Scanner to capture thousands of pictures of the inside of your mouth. We then assemble the images into a precise 3D model of your mouth, teeth and gums. This technology also allows us to share those images right on the screen with you. 

Digital X-rays

We recommend a full set of x-rays once each year. Teeth and gum issues can crop up rapidly, and we want to catch any potential problems early. We use the latest in digital x-ray technology to make x-rays quick and easy. 

Orthodontic Evaluation

We will perform this evaluation to determine if we need to correct your bite or bone structure.

• Oral Cancer Screening

We can diagnose oral cancer early by looking for these signs. 

About Digital X-Rays

Hicks Family Dentistry is committed to staying on top of technology for both the comfort and care of our patients. We’re proud to use digital x-rays that:

• Use 75% less radiation than traditional film x-rays
• Are quicker and easier to take than traditional film x-rays
• Are pain-free
• Allow Dr. Hicks and team to see issues immediately and share images with you on- screen 
• Offer greater detail and better picture quality than traditional x-rays
• Decrease your time in the chair
• Are easily stored on a computer for future reference
• Can be easily transferred to other specialists when needed

What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?

The primary reason for a dental cleaning is to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Both are difficult to get rid of by brushing alone. 

To improve your comfort, we use a Piezo Scaler™ for cleaning. This device uses high-frequency vibrations to remove bacteria-laden deposits from your teeth. There is no pain, even when removing plaque and tartar from beneath your gum line. 

If you are nervous or anxious about a dental cleaning, let your hygienist know. There are ways we can numb or gently sedate you.