Teeth Cleaning in New Bern

When you visit Evolve Dentistry for a routine dental cleaning in New Bern, we usually start by taking dental X-rays of your teeth. This gives us valuable insight into the condition of your teeth and lets us visually inspect for any signs of damage or decay. With each additional visit, we can easily see how your teeth change over time and make treatment recommendations accordingly.

After your X-ray, your hygienist starts with the cleaning process. We begin your session by methodically removing plaque and tartar from your tooth surfaces. Next, we polish your teeth with a special toothpaste. This can eliminate staining and brighten your teeth, without damaging your tooth’s outer enamel surface.

During your cleaning, we’ll keep an eye out for any potential risks for your oral health, such as cavities, and perform an oral cancer screening. If we see anything troublesome, your hygienist can let Dr. McGowen know and we’ll work together to plan future treatment.

Sometimes we may recommend including additional services to your cleaning, such as fluoride treatment or dental sealant application. These services can further protect your teeth from decay, but you generally won’t need them on every visit.

At Evolve Dentistry, our teeth cleanings are gentle and minimally invasive, so there won’t be any downtime or recovery needed after treatment. You may feel some mild discomfort, especially if you have sensitive teeth, but our team specializes in relaxing, gentle care to eliminate any pain.

After some add-on services like fluoride treatment, you may need to wait a few hours before eating or drinking. However, we’ll let you know at your session if there’s anything you need to be aware of.

Cavities are small holes in teeth that form when bacteria or acids inside your mouth eat through your tooth’s outer layer of enamel. This enamel layer is a hard coating that protects your tooth. Once there’s a breach in your enamel, it’s much easier for bacteria to damage the inner areas of your teeth—also known as dentin.

Cavities form when bacteria in your mouth feed on food particles that become stuck to your teeth. Bacteria convert these particles into acids, which can gradually dissolve your tooth.

The holes caused by cavities can be almost impossible to clean at home—and they can become a haven for bacteria to live in and grow. If we notice any cavities, we will usually recommend that you visit us for a follow-up appointment to fill in the affected area. This will keep bacteria out and prevent the cavity from growing further.

Evolve Dentistry is a fee-for-service practice, meaning we accept most insurances as an out-of-network provider for general dentistry services like teeth cleaning in New Bern. We’ll be happy to file your insurance for you. Most insurance providers will cover preventive or diagnostic services, like teeth cleanings.

Need further help with your treatment? You may be interested in financing at our practice. Dr. McGowen has partnered with CareCredit and Sunbit to help you pay for any of our services. Just apply for a CareCredit card or a Sunbit loan. Once you’re approved, you can pay for your treatment at Evolve. Then it’s easy to pay off the card or loan over time through CareCredit and Sunbit! If you have any questions about which financing service is best for you, our well-trained patient care coordinators can assist.

Sealants are very subtle and dry tooth-colored after they’ve been applied, so they won’t impact the appearance of your teeth at all! Plus, having sealants helps to prevent staining in the grooves of your teeth.