Cleanings & exams
The most important hour you'll spend on your teeth this year
A six-month cleaning catches the small things before they become the big things. Scale, polish, examine, and walk you through everything we found.
What happens at a six-month cleaning visit
From the moment you sit down to the moment we wave you out the door, a routine cleaning and exam takes about 45 to 60 minutes. It's the most underrated hour in dentistry — every cavity caught early, every gum issue stopped before it spreads, every cracked filling spotted before it gives way starts at this appointment.
Step by step, in plain English
- 1. Health check-in. Your hygienist reviews any changes in your medical history, medications, or recent surgeries. Some medications dry out the mouth or affect bleeding — we want to know.
- 2. Digital X-rays (when due). Bitewings once a year, a full set roughly every five years. The lead apron goes over you; the X-ray itself takes about two seconds per image.
- 3. Gum measurement. The hygienist measures the depth of the gum pocket around every tooth. Healthy gums measure 1 to 3 millimeters. Deeper than that, and we have a starting point for treatment.
- 4. Scaling. Using ultrasonic and hand instruments, the hygienist removes the hardened tartar that brushing can't touch — along the gum line, between teeth, behind the front teeth.
- 5. Polishing. A gentle rotating cup with a slightly gritty paste removes surface stains and smooths the tooth surface so plaque has a harder time sticking afterward.
- 6. Floss check. A final floss to clear anything loosened by scaling and to check the contact between teeth.
- 7. Doctor exam. Dr. Kim comes in to review the X-rays, examine every tooth, check the bite, and screen for oral cancer.
- 8. Plan and questions. If anything needs attention, you see it on the monitor. If nothing does, see you in six months.
What the doctor exam actually covers
- Every tooth, visually and with an instrument. Decay, cracks, wear patterns, abfractions (notches at the gum line from grinding).
- Every existing filling, crown, bridge, and implant. Old fillings break down; margins develop gaps; crowns chip.
- Your bite. Worn enamel and sore jaw muscles often trace back to a bite issue we can spot before symptoms become severe.
- Soft tissue. Lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, throat, floor of the mouth — an oral cancer screening that takes 90 seconds and saves lives. (Detailed write-up on the oral cancer screening page.)
- Gum health overall. Bleeding spots, recession, redness — the early signs of periodontal disease.
Who needs more frequent cleanings
Most patients do well on a six-month schedule. Some need to come in more often:
- History of gum disease. Three- or four-month intervals keep bacteria from re-establishing.
- Diabetes. Blood-sugar swings affect gum health; tighter cleaning intervals matter.
- Smoking or vaping. Both slow gum healing and mask the early signs of disease.
- Pregnancy. Hormonal changes increase the risk of gingivitis; an extra cleaning during pregnancy is common.
- Orthodontic patients. Braces and aligners create more places for plaque to hide. Frequent cleanings keep things on track.
If it's been a while
Plenty of Lynchburg patients walk through the door after years without a cleaning. No lectures here — your hygienist will start where you are. Sometimes the first visit is a longer cleaning, sometimes it's a scaling and root planing series spaced over a few weeks. Either way, the goal is the same: a healthy mouth and a routine you can stick with going forward.
Common questions
Frequently asked
- How often should I get a cleaning?
- Every six months for most patients. If you have a history of gum disease, you're a smoker, you have diabetes, or you're pregnant, your hygienist may recommend three- or four-month intervals to keep things stable.
- How long does a cleaning visit take?
- Plan on about 45 to 60 minutes for a standard cleaning and exam. If it's your first visit with us or it's been a while since your last cleaning, we may schedule 75 to 90 minutes to give you the time you need.
- Does cleaning hurt?
- Not for most patients. You may feel pressure or a quick zing from cold water on a sensitive tooth, but it shouldn't be painful. If you typically feel uncomfortable during cleanings, tell your hygienist — we can use numbing gel on tender areas and slow the pace down.
- Why do you take X-rays?
- X-rays show us what we can't see with the eye alone: cavities between teeth, decay under fillings, bone loss from gum disease, abscesses at the root tip, and the position of unerupted teeth. We take bitewing X-rays once a year and a full set roughly every five years, less if you have a low-risk history.
- What's the difference between scaling and a regular cleaning?
- A regular cleaning (called prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar above the gum line on patients with healthy gums. Scaling and root planing is a deeper cleaning that reaches below the gum line — it's recommended when there's gum disease present. The hygienist will tell you which one you need based on what they see.
- What does the exam itself include?
- A visual and tactile check of every tooth, an inspection of every existing filling and crown, an oral cancer screening (lips, tongue, cheeks, throat), a check of your bite, and a gum health measurement around every tooth. We also review your X-rays with you on the chairside monitor.
- Why is the cleaning part so important if I brush every day?
- Brushing and flossing remove plaque — the soft film that builds up daily. But some plaque hardens into tartar (calculus), which can't be brushed off. The hygienist's tools remove tartar in spots a toothbrush can't reach: along the gum line, behind your front teeth, and between molars. Without that, gum disease starts.
- Will my insurance cover a cleaning?
- Nearly every dental insurance plan covers two cleanings per year at 100% — they're considered preventive. If you don't have insurance, our Virginia Dental Club membership includes two cleanings, two exams, and X-rays for one flat annual price.
We'd love to see you on Thomson Drive
Call, message, or schedule online — whichever's easiest for you.