Heritage Dental
A Great Dentist
Cleanings and Exams
Preventing Serious Oral Problems

Teeth cleanings and exams every six months are the keys to a healthy lifelong smile.

Cleanings and Exams | Dentist

Cleanings and Exams

The easiest and most affordable way to protect your family's smiles against dental disease is prevention. The goal of six-month checkups at Heritage Dental is to help keep your teeth and gums healthy, avoid complex dental work, and minimize dental costs.

What to Expect at Your Routine Dental Exam

Our family of dentists strives to make routine exams pleasant, informative, and comfortable for patients of all ages, just as we would for our family members. Here is a step-by-step guide of what to expect at your six-month checkups:

  • Dental and Medical History Review — We carefully review your dental and medical history, including medications you're taking, pre-existing conditions, and any ongoing dental health concerns.
  • Digital X-Rays — If you are a new patient or have specific oral health concerns, our dentists may recommend low-dose digital x-rays. The goal is to get a baseline of your overall oral health and diagnose underlying issues to create a personalized treatment plan.
  • Comprehensive Oral Exam — We check your teeth and gums for signs of decay and gum disease, so we can address them when they’re small and easier to treat.

Benefits of Preventive Dental Care

One of the greatest gifts you can give your family is a chance at a lifetime of healthy smiles. Six-month checkups at Heritage Dental are the key and offer benefits beyond a clean smile:
Lifelong Oral Health
With comprehensive exams and cleanings, we can identify potential issues before they become serious problems. This proactive approach helps protect your family’s beautiful smiles for decades.
Reduced Dental Costs
Preventive care is a long-term investment in your smile. By catching and addressing small issues during routine checkups, we help you avoid the need for more extensive and expensive treatments in the future.
Fewer Emergencies
When we can monitor your oral health regularly, we can address weakened teeth, early decay, or gum inflammation before they become urgent problems that disrupt your life and require immediate attention.
  • Dr. David Weigle

    David C. Weigle, DMD, graduated from Albright College and Temple University School of Dentistry. He has been in private practice since 2000, after serving nine years in the U.S. Navy ...

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  • Dr. Dalton Weigle

    Dr. Dalton Weigle graduated from Owen J. Roberts High School and earned his undergraduate degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He went on to attend dental school at ...

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  • Dr. Madison Weigle

    Dr. Madison Weigle earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Following dental school, she completed a one-year General Practice Residency at Abington Hospital, ...

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Discussion of Findings and Treatment Planning

After your dental exam, our team will review their findings with you in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. If we detect areas of concern, we'll explain treatment benefits and what's involved. We believe in patient education, and you will always understand the "why" behind our recommendations.

Preventive Professional Teeth Cleanings

Routine teeth cleanings every six months play a vital role in maintaining a healthy smile. Also called prophylaxis or prophy, we recommend this type of cleaning for those with good oral health and no signs of gum disease.

  • Remove Plaque and Tartar — Using specialized dental instruments, our skilled hygienist gently removes plaque and tartar buildup from tooth surfaces and along the gumline. This step is essential in preventing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
  • Teeth Polishing — Our hygienist polishes your teeth using a mildly abrasive paste to remove surface stains and leave them feeling smooth and clean.
  • Flossing — The hygienist carefully flosses between your teeth, removing all debris and remaining plaque.
  • Fluoride Treatment — Some children and adults can benefit from fluoride treatments to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Your hygienist will let you know if they recommend this step. 

Testimonial

Never had a dental experience quite like this one in my life.

Never had a dental experience quite like this one in my life! I call it an experience because that is exactly what it was! Office staff all very friendly Dr Dalton explained everything he was doing and why very informative. My cleaning was close to the best cleaning I have ever had! I highly recommend this office!

- Tina

Frequently Asked Questions

The type of dental cleaning you need depends on your oral health status, with options ranging from routine preventive care to specialized treatments for gum disease. At Heritage Dental, we perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine which cleaning is right for you.

Types of Dental Cleanings We Offer

Common types of dental cleanings include:

  • Regular Maintenance (Prophylaxis) — Standard cleaning for maintaining healthy gums, removing plaque and tartar above the gumline. Recommended every six months for most patients.
  • Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing) — More intensive cleaning for early-stage gum disease, addressing buildup below the gumline. Often performed quadrant by quadrant over multiple appointments.
  • Periodontal Maintenance — Ongoing specialized cleaning for patients with a history of gum disease. Typically recommended every three to four months to maintain gum health and prevent disease progression.

Signs you might need more than a regular cleaning include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, receding gums, loose teeth, or a gap of over a year since your last dental visit. Our team will measure your gum pockets during your exam—deeper pockets generally indicate the need for more intensive cleaning.

Judgment-Free Dental Care in Pottstown

Call Heritage Dental today for a thorough evaluation with a trusted dental cleaning dentist in Pottstown. We will never judge or lecture you about your oral health condition, whether it's been six months or six years since your last checkup. 

Schedule Your Next Exam and Teeth Cleaning

Are you worried it's been too long since your last dental checkup? You can relax knowing that Heritage Dental is a judgment-free zone where we support you wherever you are in your oral health journey. We've welcomed many patients after years away and helped them regain their healthy smiles.

Call our Pottstown, PA, dental office at (610) 327-1616 to book your six-month checkup with us!

Cleanings and Exams Technology

Intraoral Cameras

An intraoral camera is a small, pen-shaped device that captures high-resolution images inside your mouth and displays them instantly on a screen. These cameras provide detailed views of teeth, gums, and restorations that would otherwise be difficult to see. Intraoral cameras help identify cracks, plaque buildup, and failing restorations during dental examinations. You can see what the dentist sees, so you can better understand your treatment needs and our recommendations, and make more informed treatment decisions. We also use this technology to show you the results of dental work before and after treatment.

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