Exams & Cleaning

The specialists at Cascadia Dental are very experienced in regular cleaning and prophylaxis (preventative exams), deep cleaning, periodontal and endodontic exams, and are happy to answer any and all questions surrounding the process.

Regular Dental Cleaning

We provide regular above-gum line and beneath-gum line periodontal cleaning, as well as root planning, which is the smoothing and cleaning of tooth root. A regular cleaning, also known as prophylaxis, is for teeth without any bone loss, exposed root, or periodontal disease, and removes tartar, plaque and stains from above the gum line and very slightly below. Our cleaning process can also include an X-ray examination to identify the extent of bone and gum recession. If you have healthy teeth, a prophylactic cleaning is recommended two to three times a year.

Deep Dental Cleaning

Also known as “scaling and root planing” or “gum therapy,” deep cleaning involves the thorough removal of tartar buildup below the gum line and down to the root of the tooth. This non-invasive, non-surgical periodontal treatment carefully cleans the tartar and bacteria from above and below the gumline, all the way down to the bottom of the periodontal pockets, and then the planing smoothes the tooth root to reattach the gum to the tooth. This is sometimes followed by adjunctive therapy including systemic antibiotics or antimicrobials and requires ongoing care and upkeep from the patient.

Periodontal Exams

Periodontal examinations include a gum examination to determine whether or not there is any gum line recession, and a study of teeth alignment and stability. Our specialists then use a periodontal probe to measure the depth of gum pockets around the tooth and evaluate the amount of healthy gingiva versus unhealthy gingiva. Periodontal charting provides a description of the decay, damage, restorations, mobility, pocket depths, and bleeding sites of the mouth and should be updated with each exam in order to chart progression.

Endodontic Exams

Endodontists perform root canal treatments, endodontic surgeries, and dental implants in order to save and protect your natural teeth. Root canal treatments involve the elimination of bacteria and infection around the root canal in order to save the natural teeth and prevent reinfection. During a root canal treatment, the infected pulp is eliminated and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.

Endodontic treatment can also include retreatment after failed root canals, through removing filling materials, examining the tooth, looking for additional infections and then removing them and cleaning and reshaping the canals. Endodontic surgery is another option, and can remove calcium deposits, treat damaged roots, or treat the damaged bone surrounding the tooth.

VELscope^®

Cascadia Dental provides several types of exams in addition to general dental cleaning, including noninvasive oral cancer screening exams using VELscope^®. This advanced tech device aids in easily and quickly finding abnormalities during oral examinations.

VELscope is a technology platform that detects irregularities, abnormalities, and changes in human tissue fluorescence that could point to oral cancers. A safe, blue light shines into the oral cavity and causes the tissue to fluoresce. This helps us to differentiate what is healthy tissue and what could be abnormal oral mucosal lesions based on the difference in appearance.

Periodontal Bacterial Pathogen Tests: MyPerioPath^® and Alert2^®

We offer periodontal bacterial pathogen tests as well as assessments of infection and disease, clarifying how far along gingivitis or periodontitis is and whether it is at a mild, medium, or severe stage. MyPerioPath^® is used for the detection of oral pathogens that could become responsible for gum disease. This test can provide early detection of these pathogens and oral bacteria, which can then be further examined to determine risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or diabetes. Alert2^® provides early warning of worrisome oral pathogens and establishes genetic risk as well. This test can be used to personalize treatment and identify further health risks.

Oral HPV Tests: OraRisk^®

Cascadia provides offers a saliva-based oral DNA test to conclude whether or not a patient has contracted oral human papillomavirus (HPV). Specific oral types of human papillomavirus can run the risk of developing into oral cancer without clinical signs or symptoms, so the early detection of oral HPV is essential to identify the presence or absence of the virus. The OraRisk^® HPV Complete Genotyping identifies 51 types of oral HPV, from high risk to low risk and unknown risk genotypes. The OraRisk^® HPV test aids our team in identifying increased risk for oral cancer and determines treatment or referral right away.