Cleaning + Preventions

Dental Cleaning in Louisville, KY

Dental Cleaning & Prevention in Louisville, KY

First Choice Dental Center is the ultimate destination for all your dental needs in Jeffersontown and Louisville. Dr. Holly Votteler and her dedicated dental team are committed to providing personalized treatment tailored to each patient's specific needs and ongoing oral health.


When you step into our office, you can trust our team to help you achieve the smile of your dreams, all while prioritizing your comfort and preferences.

A preventive program involves a collaborative effort between the patient, dentist, and dental staff to safeguard the natural teeth and supporting structures by averting the onset, progression, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.


The prevention of dental disease commences at home with effective oral hygiene and a well-balanced diet. This is then complemented in the dental office by the endeavors of your dentist and dental hygienist to advocate for, restore, and sustain your oral health.


Prevention also encompasses routine dental examinations, cleanings, and x-rays. Additionally, sealants and fluoride serve as valuable preventive treatments that contribute to safeguarding the teeth.


Prevention aids in evading severe and costly dental issues and is fundamental to achieving a healthy, confident, and beautiful smile.

Comprehensive Dental Exam

A dental exam will be performed by your dentist at your initial dental visit. At regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will perform the following:
  • Examination of diagnostic X-rays (radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
  •  Oral cancer screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
  •  Gum disease evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
  •  Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
  •  Examination of existing restorations: Check current dental restorations such as fillings, crowns, etc.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis) are usually performed by Registered Dental Hygienists. Your cleaning appointment will include a dental exam and the following:

  •  Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
  •  Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
  •  Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.

What to Expect with our Jeffersontown Restorative Dentists

As patients’ dental goals are unique, so are the treatment plans we create for them. Our team takes the time to listen to your concerns and expectations to develop a strategy for a more beautiful smile, whether you want overall better health, bright new teeth, or both.

Dental X Ray in Louisville

Dental radiographs (X-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam.  Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan.  Without X-rays, problem areas may go undetected.


Dental X-rays may reveal:

  •  Abscesses or cysts.
  •  Bone loss.
  •  Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
  •  Decay between the teeth.
  •  Developmental abnormalities.
  •  Poor tooth and root positions.
  •  Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line.

Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!


Are dental X-rays safe?

We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment.  The amount of radiation exposure from a full mouth series of X-rays is equal to the amount a person receives in a single day from natural sources.


Dental X-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered safe.  Dentists take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation when taking dental X-rays.  These precautions include using lead apron shields to protect the body and using modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each X-ray.


How often should dental X-rays be taken?

The need for dental X-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs.  Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary x-rays based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms, age consideration, and risk for disease.


A full mouth series of dental X-rays is recommended for new patients.  A full series is usually good for three to five years.  Bite-wing X-rays (X-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.

VizLite Oral Cancer Screening in Louisville

Research has shown that early oral cancer detection saves lives. In over 90% of cases, oral cancer can be cured if it is caught in its earliest stages. VizLite™ Plus is a unique type of light technology that helps dentists identify soft tissue abnormalities. The entire VizLite™ Plus examination takes only minutes and does not involve any discomfort or intrusion. The dentist or oral hygienist generally performs the VizLite™ procedure after the visual part of a routine dental checkup.


How can the VizLite™ Plus examination help me?

VizLite™ Plus utilizes a specialized type of chemiluminescent technology to detect any cell changes and abnormalities in the oral cavity. Often, these changes would be invisible to the naked eye. Dental abnormalities detected with this exam can have a wide variety of causes, with oral cancer being the most serious implication.


How is the VizLite™ Plus examination performed?

The VizLite™ Plus examination is quick and simple. This examination should be performed annually, unless patients are at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.  


Here is an overview of how the VizLite™ Plus examination performed:

  • The dentist will perform an extensive visual examination of the tongue, cheeks, teeth and surrounding areas. 
  •  Next, the VizLite™ Pre-Rinse solution is swished around the mouth for approximately one minute. 
  •  Finally, the VizLite™ light is positioned toward the mouth. Protective eyewear is provided to shield the retinas and the lights in the room are dimmed down to further benefit the illumination process.  The light exposes any lesions or areas of abnormal tissue that would be invisible to the naked eye. The healthy tissue of the mouth naturally absorbs VizLite™, but any tissue discoloration is accentuated.

For patients who are at increased risk for oral cancer, VizLite™ also makes a special type of dye called TBlue. This dye is applied to the mouth to highlight any lesions or patches under normal light.


If any signs of abnormality are apparent, the dentist will make arrangements to conduct further tests to determine whether oral cancer is present.


This unique piece of dental equipment is a lifesaver, so it is important to schedule regular dental checkups. If you have questions or concerns about oral cancer or the VizLite™ Plus examination, please ask your dentist.

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