Tummarello & Pandak
Family Dentistry

(703) 691-1511

11208 Waples Mill Road, Suite 101
Fairfax, VA 22030

Tummarello & Pandak
Family Dentistry > Services > Preventative Dentistry

Routine teeth cleanings and checkups with your dentist in Fairfax are the best ways to protect your smile.

Cleanings and Exams in Fairfax for Your Smile!

Contact Our Team

Teeth Cleanings and Examinations in Fairfax, VA

At Tummerello & Pandak Family Dentistry, preventive teeth cleanings and Dental exams are the foundation of our practice.

We believe consistent preventive care is the best way to maintain your healthy and beautiful smile and avoid specific dental concerns, like tooth decay and gum disease, that can be problematic for oral health and wellness. With prevention as our focus, we can help protect your smile and budget.

What to Expect at Your Preventive Dental Appointments

Comprehensive Dental Exams

A comprehensive dental exam every six months allows your Fairfax dentist to spot potential oral health issues early before they cause significant problems like advanced gum disease or oral infections. Your comprehensive exam includes:

A thorough visual exam of your teeth, gums, and surrounding joints/musculature
An oral cancer screening for early detection
Periodic x-rays to monitor oral health changes or for diagnostics
A conversation with the dentist that includes all checkup findings and treatment options

We also set aside time to answer your questions and address your concerns.

Professional Teeth Cleanings

During your dental teeth cleanings in Fairfax, you can expect one of our dentists (or our long-time, friendly hygienist, Kathy) to gently remove the tooth plaque that builds up over time or that you might've missed at home. Plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, it's impossible to remove it all on your own.

Our hygienist, Kathy, is also an excellent resource for technique demonstrations on brushing and flossing or recommendations for products that might benefit your home-care routine.

Other Preventive Options

Preventive dentistry options may also include some or all of the following:

Custom mouthguards to protect your teeth and gums during sports or athletics
Custom nightguards to prevent nighttime teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) or to treat TMJ
Dental sealants to lock cavity-causing debris away from tooth enamel
Fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth

Children's Preventive Dentistry in Fairfax, VA

We are a family dental practice and treat patients of all ages, including children.

Our approach to children's dentistry also enjoys a solid foundation in prevention. Additionally, we ensure children feel comfortable and at ease when under our care.

Besides exams and cleanings (when age-appropriate), we also offer:

Dental sealants
Fluoride treatments
Nutrition counseling (when needed)
Tips for at-home care

Why Preventive Care Is So Important

Besides protecting your oral health, preventive dental appointments also guard your overall well-being.

Because science has shown us a clear connection between gum disease and other non-dental health concerns, we now understand how important preventive dentistry is for protecting your health.

Since we understand that the bacteria causing gum disease and the bacteria that cause inflammation in the body are the same, we can do our part to protect your smile against gum disease. Some of the non-dental concerns that inflammation in the body cause include:

Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Complications during pregnancy
Low birth weight in babies
High blood pressure
Stroke
Dementia

These days, protecting your dental health also means guarding your overall well-being.

Protect Your Smile and Budget

Routine teeth cleanings and dental checkups in Fairfax are crucial because they allow our dentists to detect problems early on. This can save your family from spending time in the dental chair fixing complex issues, the stress of interrupting busy schedules for dental appointments, and budgeting for costly and complicated dental procedures.

For example, when we detect gum disease in the earliest stage (gingivitis), we can help patients manage and sometimes reverse their condition with a thorough professional cleaning and some upgrades to their home care routine.

As gum disease progresses into a more advanced stage (periodontitis), it requires more time and money to treat with deeper cleanings or surgeries, depending on your needs.

Contact Your Family Dentist in Fairfax, VA, Today

Being proactive about your dental health has never been easier! Contact your Fairfax dentist to book your next teeth cleaning and checkup online, or call us at (703) 691-1511 to speak to a team member.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prevent future cavities?

The best way to protect your smile from developing tooth decay and cavities is to be consistent with your daily brushing and flossing routine and visit your Fairfax dentist every six months for teeth cleanings and checkups.

Tooth decay develops when plaque builds up on your teeth after meals, and you don't successfully remove it with daily brushing and flossing. Plaque buildup is home to bacteria that produce acids as a byproduct.

These acids eat away at tooth enamel and cause decay. Successfully removing plaque from your teeth daily disrupts this cycle and protects your teeth from cavities.

Brushing twice a day and flossing once helps to remove daily plaque buildup. However, an electric toothbrush can help take the guesswork out of brushing your teeth, and it does a lot of the hard work for you. Our hygiene team finds that patients who use an electric toothbrush have more success removing plaque buildup than those who don't.

Is it time for your next professional teeth cleaning and checkup? Contact your team at Family Dentistry in Fairfax to schedule your next appointment. You can book your appointment online or by calling us at (703) 691-1511 and speaking with a helpful team member.

What can I do about bleeding gums?

If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, it could indicate a more significant problem developing, such as gum disease. The best thing to do is schedule an examination and teeth cleaning with your Fairfax dentist as soon as possible. We have a better chance of helping you successfully manage gum disease the earlier we detect it.

Gum disease is an infection that attacks the gums and jawbone that surround your teeth and provide support. If it's not successfully treated and managed, gum disease can result in tooth loss. Sadly, Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over thirty in America.

But there is good news. We can help our patients successfully manage and even reverse gum disease in some cases when we detect it early. That's why routine visits to your dentist in Fairfax every six months are so important.

Some signs of early gum disease (gingivitis) to be aware of are:

Persistent bad breath that doesn't go away with a mouth rinse or brushing
Red, irritated, or swollen gums
Gums that bleed when you brush and floss

An improved home care routine may also help you gain control of developing gum disease. Contact your team at Tummerello & Pandak Family Dentistry if you notice any of the signs and symptoms of gum disease.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Jennifer Tummarello

Dr. Jennifer Tummarello graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She completed her dental training at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, Virginia. She received advanced training in complex cases through a hospital-based general practice residency program at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. She spent an additional five years in private practice in Roanoke, Virginia, at the office of Zachary Law, DDS, and Associates.

Dr. Jennifer is committed to excellence in dentistry and staying current on all the latest dental advancements. She also ...