Our preventive treatments will help you avoid the inconvenience and discomfort of dental problems.

Have You Had a Cleaning in the Last Six Months?

Dental Cleanings & Exams in Winston Salem

Life gets busy, and we completely understand how easy it is for routine dental visits to slide down your to-do list. At Pryor Dental, there is absolutely no judgment. Whether it has been six months or six years since your last cleaning, our team is here to help you get back on track. Proactive care is simply the easiest, most comfortable way to keep your smile healthy and bright for life.

Preventing Dental Problems

While we cannot predict every dental issue, staying current with your checkups gives your smile the ultimate advantage. Our goal is to catch the smallest changes early, protecting your natural teeth and saving you from more complex, costly treatments later.

During your routine visits, we screen for early signs of gum disease, decay, and other common conditions before they ever have a chance to cause discomfort.

Your Role in a Healthy Smile

Your long-term dental health is a collaboration between you and our dental team. We are in this together! Below, we explore your role in prevention.

Brush Regularly

Of course, brushing after every meal is ideal, but if that's not feasible, shoot for twice daily. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and clean all tooth surfaces.

Floss Regularly

As with brushing, it's always best to floss after every meal. However, if you get busy, try to do it at least once or twice daily. Always use fresh sections of dental floss as you move across your smile.

Schedule Visits

Remember to schedule twice-yearly dental checkups and teeth cleanings with us. Checkups and cleanings catch issues early and help negate the need for costly and ongoing treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you visit your Winston-Salem dentist for a routine dental cleaning, you probably assume they will look for signs of cavities and gum disease. However, have you ever wondered if visiting your dentist for a dental cleaning twice a year can also detect other dental issues?

What Dental Issues Can a Dental Cleaning Detect?

Other than tooth decay and signs of gum disease, a dental cleaning is essential because it can potentially detect any of the following dental issues:

Bruxism and TMJ – Your dentist will check your jaw for problems with the temporomandibular joint.

Oral cancer – Your dentist will visually examine your mouth to check for white or red spots or any other abnormalities that could be cancerous.

Misaligned bite – Your dentist will check your bite to ensure it isn’t causing issues with your speech or your ability to chew.

Face or neck abnormalities – Your dentist will examine your face, neck, and the inside and the outside of your mouth for any swollen lymph nodes or a swollen thyroid. They may refer you to an expert in this area if they notice anything unusual.

Do You and Your Family Need Dental Cleanings in Winston-Salem?

If you need dental cleanings or dental exams in Winston-Salem, call Pryor Dental, to schedule an appointment. You can reach our dental office at (336) 765-7477.

Many people avoid trips to the dentist; some suffer from dental anxiety because of bad experiences in the past. Others may be afraid that their dental visit will be painful. Whatever the reason, visiting your Winston-Salem dentist twice a year for a dental exam and cleaning is essential to your oral health. So, will your dental cleaning be painful? Keep reading to find out more.

Do Teeth Cleanings Hurt?

You know it’s important to get your teeth professionally cleaned to maintain your oral health, but if you’re curious whether it will be painful, the short answer is no. It should not hurt to get your teeth cleaned.

However, if you avoid regularly scheduled teeth cleanings, you may suffer from increased sensitivity because of gum inflammation or tooth decay.

If it has been some time since your last dental cleaning, you can offset any potential discomfort by taking over-the-counter medications before your dental visit.

Are You Looking for a Dentist in Winston-Salem, NC?

If you need dental cleanings in Winston-Salem, look no further than Pryor Dental. Our caring and compassionate dental team can help you with everything from dental exams and cleanings to cosmetic and emergency dentistry. Please get in touch with our dental office at (336) 765-7477 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

As a new patient, we value the time to get to know you and understand your unique dental needs. Your initial exam, which includes x-rays, photos, and health history information, may take 30 to 40 minutes, reflecting our commitment to providing comprehensive care.

As an established patient with Dr. Pryor, your routine exams are designed to be efficient, taking only about 10 minutes unless you have specific concerns. Our biannual teeth cleanings and exams in Winston-Salem are scheduled to respect your time while ensuring your dental health is well-maintained.

In the event of a dental emergency, we will act swiftly to diagnose and treat your problem. This may involve a 10 to 20-minute process of taking x-rays, gathering information, and making a diagnosis. Our priority is to provide you with the care you need promptly.

What Does Dr. Pryor Look for During an Exam?

During a routine biannual exam, Dr. Pryor will check the health of your teeth and mouth to spot any concerns early on. He will check the health of your restorations to identify any wear or breakdown that could become problematic in the future.

He'll also screen you for problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. These issues are much easier to treat with a better prognosis early on.

Is it time for your next dental teeth cleaning and exam? Contact our team at (336) 765-7477 to book an appointment.

Your dental insurance usually covers six-month dental exams, teeth cleanings, and general prevention and maintenance. However, a team member can review your policy to ensure coverage and help you maximize your benefits. In addition, we want to help ensure you’re reimbursed for dental treatments.

If you don’t have dental insurance, your Winston-Salem dentist offers an exclusive membership plan for prevention. For a low monthly subscription fee, you can rest easy knowing you have coverage. And preventive dentistry is the hallmark of a healthy smile. Members also receive discounts on select restorations like crowns and fillings. Talk to a team member about limits and exclusions.

Additionally, our dental team is happy to work with CareCredit financing. This medical and dental credit card helps families budget care through low- and no-interest financing programs. The application is easy, and decisions are prompt. A staff member can walk you through the process.

Dental Exams in Winston-Salem, NC

Dental exams and teeth cleanings help prevent oral health issues like cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. However, dental care should accompany healthy habits like brushing and flossing.

To learn more about our dental treatments, services, and membership plan, or to schedule an appointment with our dentist, contact a dental team member today.

We agree with the recommendation of the American Dental Association that you should schedule checkups every six months. This frequency allows us to stay a step ahead of dental problems by monitoring your oral health on an ongoing basis.

Why Twice Per Year?

Obviously, semi-annual checkups are needed for good oral health, but numerous studies also point to a connection between what’s happening in your mouth and your overall health. Chronic dental conditions like decay and gum disease have been shown to contribute to problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia.

Dental Exams with Dr. Pryor

During your exams, Dr. Pryor visually examines your teeth to look for any changes since your last visit. If you are a new patient and don’t have current x-rays, we will probably recommend a set of low-radiation digital x-rays to use as a baseline for future visits.

If he does find a problem, we can resolve it when it is still small and easily treatable. Dr. Pryor will use an intraoral camera that displays a real-time image of your teeth on your chairside monitor. You will be able to clearly see what the concern is so you can understand why treatment is needed.

Call Your Winston-Salem Dentist

If it’s time for your routine checkup, please call us to arrange an appointment at our Winston-Salem, NC dental office.

Comprehensive Dental Exams

If you are a new patient, our dentist will start by meeting with you to discuss your concerns and how you would like us to help. This is an excellent time to share any goals or hopes for your smile so that our dentist can explain how preventive dentistry fits in with those goals.

Next, Dr. Peter B. Pryor Jr. will perform a thorough, gentle evaluation. He will check your teeth and gums, perform a quick and painless oral cancer screening, and use advanced digital X-rays to see exactly what is happening beneath the surface.

Professional Teeth Cleanings

Even the most dedicated brushers and flossers can miss the hidden spots where plaque and tartar love to hide. That is where our skilled dental hygienists come in. Using specialized tools, we gently clear away stubborn buildup that a standard toothbrush simply cannot touch.

These bi-annual cleanings form the absolute baseline of proactive, comprehensive general dentistry in Winston-Salem, ensuring minor issues are intercepted before they require invasive treatment.

During your visit, our team will also check for early signs of gum disease and offer personalized tips for your home routine. Prioritizing these visits twice a year is the single best investment you can make for your long-term smile.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Peter B. Pryor Jr.

Dr. Peter Pryor Jr. was born and raised on a small farm outside Lexington, Kentucky. He completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Psychology at Wake Forest University. Following his graduation, he briefly resided on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and worked as a dental assistant. This life experience largely contributed to Dr. Pryor's decision to pursue a career in dental medicine. Dr. Pryor graduated from The University of Louisville School of Dentistry, in 2015, and served as an extern within the Seneca Nation Health System, in Irving, New York, prior to this graduation. He ...

Protecting Your Oral Health at Home

dental x-rays being reviewed with dentist

At Pryor Dental, when we talk about prevention, we aren’t referring to some complicated or time-consuming system you must follow.

There are only three primary components to achieving a healthy smile:

Proper oral hygiene
Routine preventive dental exams and cleanings
A healthy, nutritious diet

The dental hygiene habits you practice while away from our dental office can mean the difference between a healthy smile and a lifetime of complicated problems.

Dental Exams and Cleanings in the Winston-Salem Area

At Pryor Dental, we believe that premium dental care should be both accessible and stress-free. To help fit quality care into your family budget, we proudly accept CareCredit and offer a convenient in-house dental membership plan for patients without traditional insurance.

Whether you live in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, or Muddy Creek, our team is ready to welcome you. Contact us today to schedule your next visit and experience a different, more comfortable kind of dentistry.

We look forward to helping you achieve outstanding oral health!

Featured Blog Posts - Teeth Cleanings & Exams

May 25, 2025

The Long-Term Benefits of Regular Dental Checkups

Life moves fast, but your health shouldn't take a backseat, especially when it comes to your smile. It’s easy to put off a dental checkup when nothing feels wrong, but the truth is, those quiet visits are some of the most powerful tools in protecting your long-term health.

Dental checkups catch ...

April 10, 2023

Why You Shouldn't Miss Your Next Dental Cleanings and Exam

Scheduling regular dental exams and teeth cleanings is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your long-term dental health and overall health. We should all schedule at least two dental exams per year to have our teeth professionally cleaned, as well as to allow a ...

November 19, 2021

The Important Role of Professional Teeth Cleaning

A professional teeth cleaning is your first line of defense against preventable conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss.

Your Winston-Salem, NC dentist Dr. Jeffrey Tibbs and the American Dental Association promote two dental checkups per year, and these checkups include professional dental cleanings. Additionally, most dental insurance ...

We Are Taking New Patients in Winston-Salem!

Get Clean Teeth!