
TYPES OF CLEANINGS
There are many types of dental cleanings which are recommended depending on the health of your gum and bones. For most adults, a normal standard cleaning, or adult prophy, is recommended. It typically takes about an hour (including the dental exam).
But if you have severe gingivitis, or active periodontitis, then you may need a deep cleaning. This type of cleaning typically takes longer, and you may need anesthesia or local numbing to help tolerate this cleaning. This cleaning is especially important because it is often the first step to making sure you do not lose any more bone, which, if progresses, can further result in the loss of your teeth. If your teeth are moving, wiggling, or ache in the gums, you may need a deeper cleaning. You can schedule an appointment here to help learn about the health of your mouth and your oral health needs.
For those patients who have had periodontal disease, we like to protect their health and bones to ensure they have stability and their bone loss does not progress. This may need a specific type of maintenance appointment which is scheduled like a normal cleaning or a more frequent recall.
This may sound complicated but don’t worry! We are here to help you understand what is best for you and your oral health. Our primary goal is to help educate our patients so they understand how to have the healthiest mouths and the happiest lives.

RECALL FREQUENCY
The Academy of General Dentistry recommended cleanings at least every 6 months but here are Smile Always, we believe in more personalized care. At every visit, we check the health of your gum and bones very thoroughly and will inform you if we see any signs of gingivitis, periodontitis or high risk for caries or cavities. If you have any of these signs and symptoms, taking into consideration the stability of these problems, we will recommend a cleaning schedule which may be more or less frequent than every 6 months. We will help you maximize your insurance benefits regardless of the schedule we recommend and have many options for those patients whose insurance benefits do not align with their needs.