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Cleanings · Checkups · Kids' Visits

Family & Preventive Dentistry in Tarboro

Catch small problems while they're still small, for everyone in the house.

Tarboro Family Dentistry, the practice of Dr. Gray Bailey, D.M.D., P.A., is a family dentist in Tarboro, NC, offering cleanings, checkups, and preventive care for kids and adults. How often you need a cleaning depends on your gums and your cavity history. Many patients come in every 6 months; people with gum disease often need cleanings more often.

Request a CleaningCall (252) 823-5739
A mother laughing as her young daughter hugs her from behind

What to Expect at a Teeth Cleaning + Checkup

A routine visit follows the same order every time, so you always know what comes next.

  1. Health history. We ask about new medications or health changes, since both show up in your mouth.
  2. X-rays, when needed. They catch cavities between teeth and problems under the gums that no mirror can show.
  3. Cleaning. We remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque that won’t brush off), then polish and floss.
  4. Exam with Dr. Bailey. He checks your teeth, gums, and bite, then tells you what he found.
  5. A plan, if you need one. If anything needs attention, you’ll hear your options before you decide.

Plenty of patients come back after a few years away, and there’s no lecture waiting for them. We start from wherever your teeth are today.

Kids’ Dental Checkups, from First Tooth to Teens

Kids get the same careful checkup as their parents, scaled to their size and attention span. Ask about booking siblings and parents together, so the whole family gets seen in one trip across town.

Preventive Dentistry for Grown-Ups, Too

Gum disease is the adult problem to watch. Early on, it often causes no pain at all, just gums that bleed when you brush or floss. Regular cleanings catch it as gingivitis, while it’s still reversible. Once it’s gone further, a deep cleaning and more frequent maintenance visits keep it in check.

Your checkups also keep an eye on the dental work you already have. Fillings, crowns, and bridges wear down over time, and spotting a worn edge early can mean a simpler repair.

See Dentures & Restorative Care

Questions

Teeth Cleaning Questions from Tarboro Families

How Long Does a Teeth Cleaning Take?

A routine teeth cleaning and checkup typically takes 45 minutes to an hour. A new patient's first visit at Dr. Bailey's Tarboro office runs about 1.5 hours for x-rays and an exam, and the cleaning follows at the next visit. A deep cleaning for gum disease takes longer and is often split across 2 visits.

How Long After a Cleaning Can I Eat?

After a regular teeth cleaning, you can eat and drink right away. A fluoride varnish changes the rules for a few hours. Stick with soft foods and cool drinks, and skip hot drinks, hard or crunchy foods, and brushing for about 4 to 6 hours. We'll tell you the exact wait for the product we used.

What Age Should My Child First See the Dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child's first dental visit by age 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in. Dr. Bailey sees children at his Tarboro family dental office starting at age 1. Early visits are short, mostly a look around and a few tips for brushing at home. Very young children who need extensive treatment are referred to a pediatric dentist.

Does My Child Need Fluoride or Sealants?

Fluoride varnish is a mineral coating painted onto teeth that strengthens enamel against cavities. Sealants are thin protective coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where most kids' cavities start. Placed soon after those teeth come in, sealants can prevent up to 80% of cavities for 2 years and keep protecting against 50% for up to 4 years, according to the CDC.

What Is a Deep Cleaning?

A deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots so the gums can heal and tighten back around the teeth. Dentists recommend it when gum disease has opened pockets between the teeth and gums that a regular cleaning can't reach.

Book the Whole Family's Dental Checkups

Call (252) 823-5739Request an Appointment