Services

Cleanings and exams

A routine visit to clean your teeth and check your mouth, for adults and teens.

A hygienist cleans your teeth and a dentist examines them. X-rays are taken only when the dentist needs them to see something the exam can't show.

What happens

Usually one visit of about an hour. A deeper cleaning takes two to four visits, and the dentist explains why first.

01
Step 1: A short talk
Tell us what has changed since your last visit and what you want us to look at.
02
Step 2: The cleaning
A hygienist removes plaque and tartar and polishes. Say so if anything is uncomfortable and we'll stop.
03
Step 3: The exam
A dentist looks at your teeth, gums and bite and shows you what they see.
04
Step 4: The plan
You leave with any treatment written down, and an estimate before anything is booked.

Comfort
Most cleanings need no numbing. If your gums are sensitive, tell us and we'll numb them, go slowly or take breaks.
Other options, and waiting
You can send earlier X-rays instead of repeating them. If you put a cleaning off, plaque and tartar keep building, and gum problems can get further along before they hurt.
Risks and after-care
Gums can be tender or bleed a little afterward, and teeth can feel sensitive for a day. Call us if soreness lasts or your gums swell.
How it's billed
We tell you before the visit what your plan says it covers, and give a written estimate for anything it doesn't.
How fees work

Cleanings are usually booked, because a hygienist needs time set aside. If you're having a problem, tell us and we'll say whether to come in or book.

The dentist decides after looking at your mouth. Some people come twice a year, and some need to come more often.

Most people feel pressure, not pain. You can ask for a break at any time, and we stop whenever you ask.

Dr. Corinne Belton, DDS; Dr. Sunhee Yang, DDS; or Dr. Kelvin Heard, DMD. Each is licensed in New York.