Cleanings and exams
A cleaning removes plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth and from just under the gumline. An exam is Dr. Holbrook looking at your teeth, gums and bite and telling you what she sees. Both are for anyone who wants to keep their teeth, including people who haven't been to a dentist in a while.
What happens
Plan on one visit of about an hour.
- 01
Step 1: We talk first
You tell us what worries you, and what you'd like to know.
- 02
Step 2: The cleaning
Marissa or Dr. Holbrook cleans with hand tools and an ultrasonic scaler.
- 03
Step 3: The exam
Dr. Holbrook checks your teeth, gums and bite, and shows you what she finds.
- 04
Step 4: X-rays, if needed
She decides, and tells you why. They aren't taken at every visit.
If your gums need more than a routine cleaning, she may suggest a deeper cleaning over two visits.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
A routine cleaning rarely needs numbing. If your gums are tender we can use a numbing gel, or a local anesthetic injection if you'd like it. Most people feel pressure and some tenderness. Raise a hand and we stop.
If you wait
Plaque that stays on your teeth hardens into tartar, which brushing can't remove, and gums that bleed can get worse. You can also choose to come less often or skip X-rays; Dr. Holbrook will tell you what she'd watch for.
Risks and after-care
Gums may be sore or bleed a little for a day, and teeth can feel sensitive to cold. Rinse with warm salt water. Call us if soreness lasts more than a few days or you notice swelling.
How it's billed
We don't bill insurance. You get the fee in writing before the visit and a receipt after. Plan members' routine visits are the ones their plan lists.
How fees work
Questions about cleanings
How often should I come in?
Dr. Holbrook decides from your exam. Some people come twice a year, some more often, some less.
Do I need X-rays?
Only when she needs them to see something she can't see otherwise. She tells you why before they're taken.
What is a deep cleaning?
A longer cleaning of the roots of the teeth under the gums, usually over two visits, for gums that have pulled away. She'll show you why she suggests it.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Shari Holbrook, DDS, general dentist, licensed in New Mexico.