Service
Cleanings and exams
A cleaning removes plaque and tartar from your teeth; an exam is the dentist's look at your teeth, gums and bite.
Together they are how we find a problem early. At your exam the hygienist also measures your gums, so a change shows up before you feel it. Children and adults both come for them, as often as the dentist advises.
Services
What happens
- 01
Step 1: Your hygienist measures and cleans
She checks the space between each tooth and the gum, removes plaque and tartar and polishes. Plan on about an hour with the exam.
- 02
Step 2: X-rays, if your dentist needs them
Not every visit includes X-rays. Your dentist decides, and tells you why.
- 03
Step 3: The dentist's exam
The dentist looks at your teeth, gums, bite and the soft tissue of your mouth, and talks over what was found.
- 04
Step 4: Your plan for next time
You hear when to come back and what each visit will include. If your gums show signs of disease, we explain the gum-health program.
Services
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
Most people feel pressure and some scraping, not pain. Tell the hygienist if a spot is tender; we can pause, use numbing gel or numb the area.
Other choices, and waiting
You can decline X-rays or part of a cleaning, and the dentist explains what that would mean. Waiting between cleanings lets plaque harden into tartar, which only a hygienist can remove, and gum disease often gives you little to feel at first.
Risks and after-care
Gums can be tender or bleed a little afterward, and teeth can feel sensitive for a day or two. Brush gently, clean between your teeth, and call us if soreness lasts.
How it is billed
A routine cleaning and exam are billed as such, and your plan may limit how many it pays for in a year. If you pay yourself, you get an estimate in writing before the visit.
How fees work
Questions about cleanings and exams
How often should I come?
Your dentist sets it from your exam. For many adults it is every six months, and some need to come more often.
Do I need X-rays every visit?
No. Your dentist decides when X-rays will help and tells you why.
Does a cleaning whiten my teeth?
A cleaning removes surface stains, which can make teeth look brighter. It isn't whitening.
Can my child have a cleaning here?
Yes. Tell us your child's age when you call and we will plan the visit.
Provided by a general dentist
Cleanings and exams at Hickory Grove Dental is provided by our general dentists and hygienists. Ask for a visit and we will call with a time.