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Dental Exams & Cleanings in Vinton, VA

Regular dental exams and cleanings are the best way to protect your oral health as well as that of your entire family. Finding and diagnosing problems early can prevent loss of teeth, pain, bad breath, and many other issues that can affect both the health of your mouth and the rest of your body. When you visit our dental office in Vinton, we make sure that you receive the best dental health care possible. We want you to enjoy great oral health that helps you keep your teeth in great shape for life.

We make it easy for you to keep up with regular dental exams and cleanings by scheduling appointments that are convenient for you and your family. Dr. Law and our staff will even work around your schedule to make appointments that allow your whole family to have all your exams done at the same visit.

Regular Dental Exams Protect Your Family’s Oral Health

During your regular exams, we will check your teeth carefully to find problems that you may not be aware of. At this time we will also make a note of any changes to your teeth since your last check-up. We use modern digital x-rays that let us see what’s going on inside your teeth and find problems that may not show up when we do a visual exam. This is also a good time to answer any questions you have and evaluate any problems you may be having.

Remember that it’s important for your children to see the dentist regularly. It’s the best way to make sure that their teeth stay strong and healthy. Our staff enjoys treating kids and works hard to make sure that they feel safe and comfortable when they visit our office. We recommend that your kids start seeing the dentist as early as age three. Early problem detection and prevention education can go a long way in getting children on the path to long-term oral health.

Why Professional Dental Cleanings Are Important

A regular brushing and flossing routine at home is one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy. Our dental hygienist will educate you on proper home care. But no matter how well you take care of your teeth, you still need regular dental cleanings. Only a trained dental hygienist can clear away the dental plaque and tartar that causes cavities and gum disease.

If you don’t keep up with regular dental cleanings, you can develop gum disease (periodontal disease). Gum disease can easily become a serious problem, and you may not even know it’s there. It can lead to tooth loss and other complicated problems that become expensive to fix. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the U.S.

Please Call Our Office to Make a Convenient Appointment

If you’ve been putting off regular check-ups and cleanings, please contact our office at (540) 342-4945 to make an appointment. Our friendly professional team is standing by to help schedule convenient appointments for you and your whole family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to have my teeth cleaned?

We suggest that you schedule dental cleanings twice a year. If you have a history of periodontal disease, our dental hygienist will most likely recommend more frequent cleanings.

During a dental cleaning, our hygienist will start by clearing away plaque and tartar that has built up on the surface of your teeth. It is important to get rid of this buildup because tartar left on your teeth will eventually harden, allowing the acids produced by bacteria to eat away at healthy dental enamel.

If these bacteria are not removed from your teeth and around your gum line, you can develop gum disease. Without proper treatment, gum disease can lead to serious oral health problems, including possible tooth loss.

It’s more important than ever to avoid gum disease because research has shown that there is a strong connection between the health of our mouth and our physical health. We have a much greater chance of eliminating the dangers of gum disease and associated problems with early detection and regular professional dental cleanings.

As part of every dental cleaning, our hygienist will carefully examine your teeth to look for signs of other problems that may be developing. When caught early, we can treat these concerns before they become serious and difficult to treat.

What happens during a dental checkup?

We recommend twice-yearly checkups because we want to try to stay a step ahead of any problems that may be developing with your teeth and gums. In many cases, decay can be present without you even being aware of it until you get a toothache. The sooner we find a cavity, the sooner we can remove decay and prevent it from spreading and causing pain and more damage to your tooth.

During the exam you will most likely see the dentist and hygienist. This allows us to do a thorough check of all aspects of your oral health, including teeth and gums. We will start with a visual check of your mouth, and note any changes that have occurred since your last exam. It’s important to take your overall health into account when updating your dental history. We will talk to you about changes to your physical health, including new medications you’re taking that may affect your oral health.

It may or may not be necessary for us to take x-rays during the checkup. This decision will be made based on your oral health history and changes noted during the exam.

Once the exam is complete, the dentist and hygienist will develop a treatment plan to address any problems that we find. If you have not had a professional dental cleaning, we will make an appointment for you and also schedule your next dental checkup.

Why do my gums bleed when I brush?

Bleeding gums are a sign that you may not be brushing and flossing properly and may also indicate that you already have some degree of periodontal disease. Your teeth bleed when you brush because the gum tissue around your teeth is inflamed and swollen and brushing irritates it. Brushing and flossing are the best ways to get mild gum disease under control, however, so we'll discuss ways to make this important health routine easier and more comfortable for you.

As you go through your day, bacteria build up on your teeth and around the gums and allow plaque to develop. Plaque is a sticky substance that coats the surface of your teeth. When you brush and floss, you can remove a certain amount of plaque, but even the most diligent at-home oral hygiene is unlikely to remove it all.

When plaque is allowed to remain on your teeth, bacteria can spread beneath your gums. This causes an infection to develop. It is important to catch this infection early because it can do serious damage to your teeth and may even result in tooth loss.

It's important to schedule regular professional cleanings with a dental hygienist. If your teeth are bleeding when you brush, we recommend that you make an appointment for a professional dental cleaning as soon as possible to prevent gum disease from spreading.

What insurance do you accept?

We are a Delta Dental Premier Provider, and we participate in all 50 states. Here is a listing of the insurance plans we work with. If you don’t see yours listed here, please contact our office for more information.

AARP Delta

ACS Benefit Services

AFLAC

Aetna

Ameritas

Anthem

Assurant

BC/BS of Alabama

BC/BS of Illinois

BC/BS of North Carolina

Blue Care Dental Guardian

Cigna

Delta Individual Plans

Eastern Life

MetLife

Northeast Delta NEI Health Benefit Plan

Premier Access

Principal

Securian

Sun Life

Wellpoint

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Zachary Law

A native of Elkins, West Virginia, Dr. Law came to this community when he took over the practice in the summer of 2013. Dr. Law achieved his Bachelors of Science degree at Alderson-Broaddus College and continued his education at West Virginia University, graduating with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Before moving to Virginia, Dr. Law was a practicing dentist in Berkeley Springs for eight years under the tutelage of Dr. Thomas Leslie. He also served as an adjunct professor for West Virginia University’s School of Dentistry as a preceptor for ...

Monday	8am-4pm
Tuesday	12pm-7pm
Wednesday	8am-4pm
Thursday	12pm-7pm
Friday	8am-12pm