Dental Exams and Cleanings in Jacksonville, FL

Abstract logo design featuring a dark blue, stylized, intertwined "O" and "D" on a black background, creating a symmetrical and modern appearance.

A healthy smile is more than just an aesthetic asset; it’s a window into your overall well-being, revealing early signs of systemic conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed for months or even years. When life gets busy, routine dental care often becomes an afterthought, yet skipping those twice-yearly appointments can transform minor concerns into complex problems requiring extensive treatment and significant investment.

At Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen, we believe preventive dental care forms the foundation of a lifetime of healthy smiles. Our Jacksonville practice combines state-of-the-art diagnostic technology with genuine, personalized attention to help you maintain optimal oral health while catching potential issues when they are easiest and most affordable to address.

Why Choose Distinctive Dentistry for
Dental Exams & Cleanings?

Abstract logo design featuring a dark blue, stylized, intertwined "O" and "D" on a black background, creating a symmetrical and modern appearance.

Dentists Involved in Professional Dental Organizations

Abstract logo design featuring a dark blue, stylized, intertwined "O" and "D" on a black background, creating a symmetrical and modern appearance.

Made from High-Quality, Natural-Looking Materials

Abstract logo design featuring a dark blue, stylized, intertwined "O" and "D" on a black background, creating a symmetrical and modern appearance.

Dental Insurance Accepted & Flexible Financing Options Available

What Happens During a Dental Exam?

Regular examinations go far beyond simply checking for cavities. When you visit our Jacksonville office for your checkup, Dr. Mullens and Dr. Nguyen conduct comprehensive evaluations that assess every aspect of your oral health.

Thorough Visual and Digital Assessment

Your exam begins with a detailed visual inspection of your teeth, gums, tongue, and soft tissues. Our team uses advanced intraoral cameras to capture high-definition images of your mouth, allowing you to see exactly what we see. Digital X-rays provide detailed images using up to 90% less radiation than traditional film, revealing hidden decay, bone loss, and other concerns invisible to the naked eye.

Gum Health Evaluation

We carefully measure the depth of pockets around each tooth to monitor for signs of gum disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 47% of adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. Early detection through regular exams allows us to intervene before minor inflammation progresses into more serious conditions affecting your teeth and supporting bone.

Oral Cancer Screening

Every exam includes a thorough oral cancer screening using our advanced OralID technology. This innovative system can detect abnormal tissue changes before they become visible during standard examinations, providing our Jacksonville patients with comprehensive health evaluations and peace of mind.

The Importance of Professional Dental Cleanings

Even patients with excellent brushing and flossing habits cannot remove all plaque and tartar buildup at home. Professional cleanings reach areas your toothbrush simply cannot access.

What to Expect During Your Cleaning

Our skilled dental hygienists use specialized instruments to gently remove hardened tartar deposits from above and below the gumline. We then polish your teeth to remove surface stains and smooth enamel surfaces, making it more difficult for plaque to accumulate between visits. Personalized hygiene education ensures you have the knowledge and techniques needed for effective home care.

Benefits Beyond Your Mouth

Research consistently demonstrates connections between oral health and systemic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Regular cleanings help reduce harmful bacteria that can enter your bloodstream through inflamed gum tissue, supporting both your smile and your overall health.

Why Choose Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen for Your Dental Exams and Cleanings?

Our team of dentists brings decades of combined experience and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Dr. Richard Mullens, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists with over three decades of experience, leads our practice alongside Dr. James Nguyen, whose Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture provides a unique artistic eye for detail. Together, they deliver comprehensive preventive care that addresses your unique needs.

Our brand-new, state-of-the-art facility features advanced technology, including Sirona CBCT imaging, soft-tissue lasers, and the DIGIDOC cavity detection system. We allot two full hours for each new patient appointment because we believe in taking proper time to understand your oral health history, concerns, and goals. With hundreds of five-star Google reviews, our Jacksonville patients consistently praise the personalized attention and stress-free environment our dedicated team provides.

Schedule Your Dental Exam and Cleaning at Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen

Your oral health deserves the same attention and care you give to the rest of your body, and regular dental exams and cleanings represent the most effective way to protect your smile for years to come. At Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen, we treat every patient like family, combining uncompromising clinical excellence with genuine warmth and compassion in our beautiful San Marco location.
Whether you are due for your six-month checkup or establishing care with a new dental home, our team is ready to welcome you. We offer flexible payment options through CareCredit to ensure cost never stands between you and the preventive care you deserve. Contact us today to experience the distinctive difference personalized dental care can make.

Office Hours

8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 11:30 am

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

If you have any food debris or an object stuck between your teeth, don’t try to remove it with a toothpick or any sharp objects, as this could damage your gums. Typically, gently flossing around the tooth and rinsing your mouth with saltwater can help dislodge it. However, if you’re not having any luck, you can also give our office a call. Our dental hygienists have all of the necessary tools to safely remove the debris.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Lockjaw, jaw tension, and pain are just a few of the many different types of jaw pain. If your discomfort is chronic, our team can help you determine the underlying cause of it and refer you to a specialist if necessary. However, if your pain is a result of an impact, visit your local emergency room.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Our team is happy to provide you with further guidance over the phone if you’re unsure of where to go for help. You can place an ice pack on the outside of your face to relieve any discomfort.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: If you believe your jaw is broken, dislocated, or damaged due to trauma, visit your local ER immediately. If it’s a reoccurring issue, our team can help you determine best next steps for finding relief after conducting an examination.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?  If your oral injury doesn’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes, you may need to go to the emergency room. Or, if you’re conflicted about what to do, give our office a call and our team can help.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Oral wounds can bleed a lot, and when the blood mixes with the saliva, it can make the injury look a lot worse than it is. You can stop the bleeding by using a clean washcloth or piece of gauze and pressing it against the cut. A cold compress can help to reduce any swelling that may occur.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team typically doesn’t see patients for injuries. If you require stitches or the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes of placing pressure on it, visit your local emergency room.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? If your tooth is wiggling in its socket or partially dislodged, try to get to our office as soon as possible to prevent any further damage. If you’re experiencing pain, our team can provide you with first aid guidance over the phone.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Avoid touching your tooth and eating any foods (especially those that are chewy or sticky), and rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to remove any debris and cleanse the area. Avoid flossing or brushing your teeth until you’re able to see us.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: If your tooth has become partially dislodged due to impact, our team may be able to salvage it and see if the roots are able to re-fuse with the bone. In the case that your tooth can’t be saved, we may recommend an extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge.

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Whether your denture has broken to the point of it being unwearable or it just has a crack, you should never wear a damaged prosthetic. It can lead to irritation of the oral tissues in addition to jaw discomfort. If you have existing teeth and try to wear your damaged denture, it could also harm those teeth. Call our office immediately so our team can assess your prosthetic.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Although your local department store likely sells a denture repair kit, do not try to superglue or repair your own dentures. The best option in this scenario is to see a professional as soon as possible.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: Our team will examine your dentures and see if we’re able to repair them. If they’re damaged beyond repair, we can start the process of replacing them for you.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, both of these situations warrant an immediate call to our Jacksonville dental office. That way, we can repair or replace your restoration as quickly as possible.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In addition to reaching out to us to schedule an appointment, we recommend not eating anything crunchy, hard, or sticky. Additionally, keep your restoration somewhere safe, like a small, clean container.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns There are some cases where we can re-cement your restoration back in place, like if your dental crown is relatively new and in good condition. Other times, our only option is to replace your dental crown or filling with a new one.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Since this dental injury can cause a significant amount of pain and there is only a small window of time where we can save your tooth (about 60 minutes), the answer is “yes!” So, don’t hesitate – contact our Jacksonville dental team right away to schedule an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Calling us is an important first step. This ensures that we can schedule an appointment for you with one of our dedicated emergency dentists right away. Plus, it allows us to guide you through the process of preserving the root of your tooth – whether that’s by placing it back in its socket or putting it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Fortunately, a knocked-out tooth can sometimes be saved. If that’s not the case for some reason – like you weren’t able to find your tooth – then we will instead begin the process of replacing it with a dental bridge or implant so the look, health, and function of your smile are restored.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Very sensitive teeth can be a dental emergency. That’s why it’s important to consider how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and if they are present in tandem with others, like pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There’s really only one thing you can do until your appointment: try to avoid things that could exacerbate your discomfort. In other words, don’t drink anything really hot, don’t eat anything really cold, and take OTC pain medication as directed on the label (if needed).

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth That depends on what’s causing your dental sensitivity. If it’s a cavity, then it’s likely that a tooth-colored filling or dental crown is the answer. If it’s an infection in your gums, then gum disease treatment is needed instead.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Cracked teeth are considered dental emergencies and you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Leaving your tooth untreated can allow it to be vulnerable to further damage and bacteria. Before the situation worsens, schedule an appointment with our team so we can determine the best way to address your tooth.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth, otherwise you could end up disturbing your injured tooth. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to minimize discomfort. You can also rinse with saltwater to keep your tooth bacteria-free. If you notice any sharp or jagged edges on your tooth, you can use dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissue.

How we treat cracked teeth: We’ll examine your cracked tooth to determine the cause of the situation as well as the proper treatment for it. If the crack is minor, then we can typically address it with composite resin to improve and strengthen your tooth. For more severe damage, you may require a dental crown to repair the structure and prevent future discomfort. If the tooth cannot be saved, then we’ll likely have to extract it and replace it with something else, such as a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Chipping your tooth isn’t always considered an urgent dental situation, so it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t get it treated right away. That said, leaving it exposed to bacteria for too long can lead to problems later on. Before the situation can become worse, it’s best to visit your dentist for help.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Until you’re able to see us for treatment, be sure to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Be gentle when brushing your teeth and gums, and don’t hesitate to use dental wax to cover up any rough or sharp edges you might notice. This can help you prevent harming your cheeks or other soft oral tissue.

How we treat chipped teeth: Chipped teeth can typically be treated by using composite resin to repair and improve them. However, if the damage is more visible and toward the front of your smile, then veneers might be the longer-lasting solution you’re looking for.

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches can be due to various reasons, some of which might not be particularly urgent. Even so, this can sometimes be an indication of a more serious dental emergency, such as an oral infection. That’s why it’s best to visit your dentist sooner rather than later so that they can address the underlying problem before it grows.

How you should handle a toothache: Rinse your mouth with saltwater to sanitize the area, dislodge any stuck objects between your teeth, and help alleviate any discomfort. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications to further minimize the aching.

How we treat toothaches: Our team will need to thoroughly evaluate your smile to determine the root cause of your toothache. If it’s due to periodontal issues, then we’ll provide gum disease treatment. Other procedures to get rid of your toothache might involve root canals or tooth extractions, if necessary. We’ll be sure to walk you through your options before moving forward with any treatment.