Exams and cleanings

What it is

A checkup has two parts. The exam is your dentist’s careful look at your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth. The cleaning removes plaque (a soft, sticky film of germs) and tartar (plaque that has hardened onto your teeth). Once tartar forms, brushing and flossing can’t remove it.

Plaque left along the gumline can make your gums red, puffy, and quick to bleed. This is gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, and it can usually be reversed. Left alone, it can turn into periodontitis, a deeper infection that damages the bone that holds your teeth.

Who it helps

Checkups are for everyone, including people who feel fine. Cavities and gum disease often cause no pain until they’re well along, so a visit is how they get caught early. If you wear dentures, you still need checkups, so your dentist can look at your gums and tongue and check the fit.

Come in sooner if your gums bleed when you brush, a tooth is sensitive or aching, or you notice a sore in your mouth that hasn’t healed in two weeks.

What happens

1. Talking first. We ask how you’ve been, whether anything hurts, and whether your health or medicines have changed. Some medicines cause dry mouth, which raises the risk of cavities.
2. X-rays, if you need them. X-rays show decay between teeth and the bone below your gums. You bite on a small holder for a few seconds at a time.
3. Gum check. We measure the small space between each tooth and the gum with a thin probe. Healthy gums usually measure one to three millimeters. It feels like light poking, and tender spots may sting a little.
4. Cleaning. We remove tartar, including just under the gumline, with small hand tools and sometimes a vibrating tool that sprays a fine mist of water. You’ll feel scraping and pressure. Then your teeth are polished with a gritty paste and flossed.
5. Exam. Your dentist checks each tooth for decay, cracks, and worn fillings, and looks at your bite and jaw. They also check your lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat for early signs of oral cancer.
6. Your plan. Your dentist tells you what they found and shows you anything that needs attention, along with your options. If all looks healthy, you’ll set a date for your next visit.

Recovery and aftercare

There’s no recovery time. Your gums may feel a little tender for a day, especially where they were swollen. If you had a fluoride treatment, you’ll be told how long to wait before eating or brushing.

Between visits, brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth once a day. That keeps plaque from hardening into new tartar. Cutting back on sugary snacks and drinks helps too, especially ones you sip slowly over the day.

Cost and insurance

The cost of a visit depends on what it includes. A first visit with a full set of X-rays costs more than a routine checkup, and a deep cleaning for gum disease is a separate treatment from a regular cleaning.

Most dental plans cover checkups and cleanings, often twice a year, and many pay most or all of the cost. Plans differ in how often they cover X-rays and cleanings, so it’s worth checking yours. If you don’t have insurance, see insurance and financing for your options.

Alternatives

There’s no real substitute for a professional cleaning. Once tartar has formed, only a dental cleaning can remove it. Good brushing and flossing slow plaque down, but they don’t replace checkups.

You can choose to go longer between visits. The trade-off is that problems have more time to grow unnoticed. A cavity that would have needed a small filling can grow until it needs a crown or a root canal (treatment for the inside of the tooth).