Dental Confidence or Caution

Whether you face the dentist with confidence or with caution, regular cleanings and checkups are what keep your smile healthy. At Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, we want every patient, eager or nervous, to keep those visits on the calendar. This guide explains what happens at a routine visit, why the timing matters, and how we make the chair a calmer place to be.

Why regular dental visits matter

Your teeth and gums change slowly. Plaque, a soft film of bacteria, forms on your teeth every day. If it stays put, it hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which a toothbrush cannot remove. Tartar irritates the gums and gives bacteria a place to hide. Over months, that can lead to cavities, gum disease and, in time, tooth loss.

Most of these problems are quiet in the early stages. A small cavity rarely hurts. Early gum disease may only show up as a little bleeding when you floss. Regular visits let us find these changes while they are small, simple and comfortable to treat.

For most patients, we recommend a visit every six months. Some people need to come more often, for example if you have a history of gum disease, a dry mouth, or a lot of dental work that needs watching. We will tell you what schedule makes sense for your mouth, and why.

Regular visits also protect your time and budget. A small filling today is quicker and simpler than a crown or root canal later. Keeping your appointments is one of the easiest ways to avoid surprise toothaches, emergency visits and larger treatment down the road.

Part 1: your cleaning

A routine appointment has two parts: a cleaning and a checkup. At Southern York Smile Care, a cleaning is a full 60 minutes, so nothing is rushed. You can read more about it on our dental cleanings page.

During the cleaning:

• Your teeth and gums are inspected. We look for bleeding, swelling, pockets around the teeth and any spots that need a closer look.
• Plaque and tartar are removed. Special instruments clear away the buildup above and just below the gumline, including the spots your brush misses.
• Your teeth are polished. Polishing smooths the surface and lifts many everyday surface stains from coffee, tea and food.
• Your teeth are flossed. This clears out anything left between the teeth and shows us where the gums are tender.

Part 2: your checkup

During the checkup, Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, reviews your overall dental health. That includes your teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints and the soft tissues of your mouth. We use modern dental technology to see more with less discomfort:

• Digital X-rays show what the eye cannot see, with up to 90% less radiation exposure than traditional film.
• An intraoral camera puts a close-up picture of your tooth on a screen, so you can see what we see.
• DIAGNOdent helps us spot early decay in the grooves of your teeth.
• An oral cancer screening with ViziLite, a blue dye rinse and OralCDX when needed checks the soft tissues of your mouth.

If we find a cavity, early gum disease or another issue, we will explain it in plain words, show you the images, and talk through your options. Any follow-up visit is planned around your schedule. Sooner is usually better, because small problems are easier and more comfortable to fix than large ones.

If you are cautious about the dentist

Many people feel uneasy about dental visits. Some had a rough experience as a child. Some dislike the sounds, the smells or the feeling of not being in control. Others simply worry about what we might find. All of that is normal, and none of it is a reason to feel embarrassed.

Here is how we help nervous patients feel more at ease:

• We talk first. Tell us what worries you. We will explain each step before we start it, and you can ask us to pause at any time.
• We go at your pace. If it has been years since your last visit, we can start with a conversation and a simple exam.
• We offer sedation. Oral sedation can help you relax through your care. Learn more about sedation dentistry.
• We use gentler tools where we can. Air abrasion and the Picasso laser can make some treatments quieter and more comfortable.

You may also find our article Help! I'm afraid of the dentist useful if anxiety has kept you away.

What you do between visits

Your six-month visits matter, but what you do every day matters even more. Plaque is always forming, so daily care is what keeps it under control.

Brush twice a day

Brush for two minutes, morning and night, with a soft-bristled brush. Angle the bristles toward the gumline and use gentle circles. Pressing hard does not clean better and can wear down your gums.

Clean between your teeth every day

Floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser reach the spaces your brush cannot. Most cavities and gum problems start in these tight spots.

Choose your toothpaste with care

The flavor is up to you. The American Dental Association recommends a fluoride toothpaste for most people. If you prefer a holistic approach, ask us about remineralization options. We offer fluoride to patients who want it and remineralization varnish for holistic patients.

Watch the snacks and sips

Frequent sugary snacks and drinks feed the bacteria that cause decay. Water between meals is the friendliest choice for your teeth.

Confidence you can build on

When you see us twice a year and keep up a good routine at home, you can be confident your teeth and gums are in good shape. And if something does need attention, you will hear about it early, while the fix is still small.

Beyond cleanings and checkups, we offer restorative dentistry to repair damaged teeth and cosmetic dentistry to brighten and reshape your smile. Dr. Haywood has more than 35 years in practice and will always explain your choices before anything is done.

A quick note on payment: we are out of network with every insurer. You pay at the visit and our office files the claim so your plan can reimburse you. CareCredit and Cherry payment plans are available. See our financing page for details.

Schedule your next visit

Whether you come in with confidence or with caution, we are glad to see you. If it is time for your cleaning and checkup, call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment at our Shrewsbury office at 4 S. Main St. We serve Shrewsbury, York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD, and we look forward to meeting you.

About the authorDr. Steven Haywood, DDS

DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.

Meet Dr. Haywood →