Dental Cleanings & Prevention in Celina and St. Marys, OH

Reach out to Grand Lake Family Dentistry in Celina, OH, to request a prevention program for your dental health. A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and support structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions. 


Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.


Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.


Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.

Dental Exams 

Your dentist will perform a comprehensive dental exam at your initial dental visit. At regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will perform the following:



  • Examination of Diagnostic X-rays (Radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
  • Oral Cancer Screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
  • Gum Disease Evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
  • Examination of Tooth Decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
  • Examination of Existing Restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.

Professional Dental Cleaning 

Registered Dental Hygienists usually perform professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis). Your cleaning appointment will include a dental exam and the following:



  • Removal of Calculus (tartar): Calculus is a hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
  • Removal of Plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
  • Teeth Polishing: Remove stains and plaque that are not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.

Night Guards 

Dental night guards are used to treat teeth grinding and clenching. We cover bruxism, the causes and treatment options, the benefits of using a night guard, how to choose a night guard (the various types of night guards available and the costs), and the proper use and maintenance of a night guard.

Understanding Bruxism 

Bruxism refers to an oral parafunctional activity that most humans experience at some point in their lives. Grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw are the two main characteristics of this condition, which can occur during the day or at night.


Bruxism is one of the most common known sleep disorders and causes most of its damage during sleeping hours. The clenching and grinding that accompanies bruxism is symptomatic of a malfunctioning chewing reflex, which is turned off in non-sufferers when sleeping. For sufferers, deep sleep or even naps cause the reflex nerve control center in the brain to turn off and the reflex pathways to become active.

Benefits of Using a Night Guard

A night guard provides the best protection against nighttime bruxism. It assists in protecting from damage due to grinding and clenching. It is also designed with opposing grooves to help secure a natural resting bite and reduce damage as much as possible as you sleep.


If you have questions or concerns about night guards, please contact our office.

Dental X-Rays

Dental radiographs (X-rays) are essential preventative diagnostic tools that provide valuable information that is not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without X-rays, problem areas may go undetected.

Dental X-Rays May Reveal:

  • Abscesses or Cysts
  • Bone Loss
  • Cancerous and Non-cancerous Tumors
  • Decay Between the Teeth
  • Developmental Abnormalities
  • Poor Tooth and Root Positions
  • Problems Inside a Tooth or Below the Gumline

Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!

  • Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

    We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment.  The amount of radiation exposure from a full mouth series of X-rays is equal to the amount a person receives in a single day from natural sources.


    Dental X-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered safe.  Dentists take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation when taking dental X-rays.  These precautions include using lead apron shields to protect the body and using modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each X-ray.

  • How Often Should Dental X-Rays Be Taken?

    The need for dental X-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs.  Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary X-rays based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms, age consideration, and risk for disease.


    A full mouth series of dental X-rays is recommended for new patients.  A full series is usually good for three to five years.  Bite-wing X-rays (X-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.

Home Dental Care

Our ultimate goal when treating patients is a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving that goal. It starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the various dental aids that help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.

Use These Methods for Proper Home Dental Care

Brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene. Though bi-annual professional dental cleanings remove plaque, tartar, and debris, excellent homecare methods are equally valuable. Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of the mouth, make the smile sparkle, and prevent serious diseases.

  • Tooth Brushing

    Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA-approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.


    1. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
    2. Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
    3. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
    4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

    Electric toothbrushes are also recommended.  They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently.  Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.


  • Flossing

    Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.  Flossing not only helps clean these spaces but also disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bones.


    1. Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
    2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
    3. Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline.  Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.

    Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.

  • Rinsing

    It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing and after meals, if you are unable to brush.  If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, consult with your dentist or dental hygienist about its appropriateness.


    Use other dental aids as recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist:  interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.

New patients welcome! Schedule your first visit and experience personalized dental care.

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