Routine preventive services like cleanings and exams ensure that your family teeth stay healthy and problem free.

dental cleaning | dental exam | rochester mn

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Cleanings and Exams in Rochester, MN

teeth cleaning | dental exam | rochester mn Our team at Quarry Hill Family Dental believes in the importance of regular exams and cleanings. These preventative treatments will not only help you have good oral health, but they will also help catch any issues early before it causes you pain. Our team strives to be a resource to you for all your oral health needs.

New Patient Exams

As a new patient in our Rochester dental office, the team will perform a comprehensive dental exam. It is important for us to gather a full view of your mouth to be able to provide the best treatment recommendations.

The exam will begin with a team member talking to you about your dental history and any dental concerns. For many new patients, x-rays will need to be updated. We need to have up to date x-rays so if there are cavities between the teeth they can be detected. If any treatment is needed, Dr. Jarrett will discuss why she recommends it and what options are possible.

Cleaning Appointments

Seeing one of our hygienists on a regular basis for cleanings will help control any tartar buildup in your mouth. Tartar is plaque that has built up and hardened over time. Once plaque has turned to tartar,it can only be removed by a dental professional scaling your teeth. It is best for your oral health to remove tartar frequently because it can cause cavities and gum disease.

At the conclusion of each cleaning appointment, our team will point out any areas of your mouth that need special attention between visits. By helping you focus on these “watch” areas, you may be able to help prevent cavities from forming.

Existing Patient Exams

teeth cleaning | dental exams | rochester mn Getting frequent dental exams is important for several reasons. During your exam, Dr. Jarrett will examine every tooth and address any concerns you may have. She will discuss if any “watch” areas are progressing towards cavities and need to be addressed. Another critical part of each exam is when Dr. Jarrett performs your oral cancer screening. Your oral health can greatly impact your overall physical health.

Digital X-Rays

Today’s digital x-rays provide a higher quality x-ray at a lower dose of radiation than film x-rays. Both of these improvements help keep your overall health in mind. With higher quality x-rays, Dr. Jarrett can diagnose cavities at their earliest stage. By treating a cavity early, we can help keep you out of pain and save as much of your tooth structure as possible.

Intra-Oral Camera

This simple and small piece of technology allows our team to show you what they see. A team member will take pictures of any areas of concern within your mouth and then use a large monitor in the treatment room to display the photos.

By showing you a real image, it is much easier for our team to explain what is happening with a tooth. We then save each image into your chart. This is important because we are also able to document and compare how a tooth is progressing over time.

Please Call Us to Arrange Your Next Exam

Having difficulty finding time to see a family dentist in Rochester, MN for a dental exam and cleaning? Call our office today to book your evening or weekend appointment!

Laid back atmosphere

"Great office with a very friendly and laid back atmosphere."
- Colleen

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I schedule a cleaning or exam?

It is important to stay on a regular schedule with your preventative cleanings and exams to help develop the best oral health and to avoid the need for emergency dental care. At Quarry Hill Family Dental, there is no set standard for every patient. Our team will base the interval we would like you to come in on your dental history and current oral health. Dr. Jarrett will then make a recommendation to be seen at our office every 3, 4, 6, or 12 months.

If you have the beginning signs of gum disease, Dr. Jarrett will often recommend having more than two cleanings in a year until your gum health increases. By seeing us more frequently, we can help prevent you from developing gum disease that can cause irreversible damage.

If you wear full dentures and have no teeth remaining, it is still essential to maintain regular checkups at our office. During your exams Dr. Jarrett performs an oral cancer screening, checks for sore spots in your mouth, and cleans your denture to make sure it is in proper working order. Not only do these visits help protect your oral health, but they will also help maintain your denture so it continues to fit well and functions as it’s supposed to.

Why is flossing important?

One of the most difficult but essential habits to establish for many people is daily flossing. It is important to floss because a toothbrush cannot remove the plaque between your teeth. Regardless of whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush, only floss can reach these areas. This is also one of the reasons why a common place where cavities form is between your teeth where floss can't reach. Plaque can easily “hide” there and start to develop into tartar which then leads to decay.

Another critical reason to floss is to help maintain healthy gums. When you floss, it cleans your gums by removing the plaque and bacteria that get stuck between your gums and teeth. If these are continually left in this area, it can cause gingivitis which is an inflammation of your gums. Gingivitis can then lead to gum disease which can have irreversible effects on your oral health.

If you have a difficult time getting yourself to floss using traditional floss, another option is to use floss picks. For many people, these make the process easier and help them clean those tough to reach areas. During your next appointment, ask one of our team members for a sample pack of floss picks to try at home!

Should I use an electric toothbrush?

When used properly, both electric and manual toothbrushes are effective at removing plaque from your teeth. The most significant difference between the two is the ease of use of an electric toothbrush.

Benefits of using an electric toothbrush include:
Built-in timers that help you brush each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds
Built-in sensors so you don’t brush too hard
Easier to brush in hard-to-reach places
Less physical effort required to remove plaque

Depending on your age and physical health, an electric toothbrush can make a significant impact on your oral hygiene. Dr. Jarrett has seen how, for both young children and those who are having a more difficult time physically, an electric toothbrush helps them maintain a healthy and cavity free mouth.

If you are considering purchasing an electric toothbrush, we recommend buying one of the less expensive ones to start. All the major brands offer a less expensive version that still provides many benefits. By purchasing a less expensive brush to start, it is easier to decide to see how a certain brand works and if you actually like using electric over manual.

When you are using an electric toothbrush, it is important to remember to switch our the head every few months. Many brands sell packs of heads at a reduced price so that it may be beneficial for multiple family members to all use the same brand of electric toothbrush.

Our office does not sell or endorse any specific brand of electric toothbrush. But Dr. Jarrett and our team have used many of the top brands so if you have further questions, please ask at your next appointment.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Molly Jarrett

Dr. Molly Jarrett was born and raised in Rochester, just minutes from the office. As a child, she spent many hours in our very building, which was once home to the veterinary practice run by her father, Dr. Gary Noser.

After ...