LOGICAL CLEANINGS
Do you know what's involved in a "cleaning" appointment?
The average adult has 28 teeth (minus wisdom teeth) in their mouth.
Each tooth has 5 surfaces above the gum line, which equates to examining 140 areas.
To properly do adult exams during hygiene appointments (which should include: a head & neck exam for cancer, reviewing new X-rays if taken, comparing changes between previous X-rays, and examining 140 areas) it takes at least 10 minutes, not 3-5 minutes (of small talk).
Children have 20 teeth, also each with 5 surfaces.
Children also produce tartar and commonly have excess plaque around their teeth.
Children need to be evaluated and cleaned by a licensed hygienist, not just have their teeth polished by an assistant.
It is against the Virginia Board of Dentistry’s regulations to have non-licensed staff remove tartar or plaque below the gum line.
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