What can I expect at a cleaning? The dentists that I've had before always check my teeth after the cleaning. They poke gums and the teeth to check for softness. The cleaning was more thorough. They didn't usev even floss last time.

Hi! Thank you for reaching out. Each cleaning appointment is slightly different depending on the patient's age and needs. Typically, the doctor performs an exam after a dental cleaning every six months. If a cleaning is performed more frequently, the exam is usually not necessary. The probing (checking the gums) is usually done once a year for adults unless there is a specific problem. We normally don't perform probing on baby teeth. Every 6-24 months, we might take x-rays - the frequency depends on the patient's needs and cavity risk. Keep in mind that we clean between the teeth with scaling instruments to remove any tartar or plaque that might be hiding between the teeth. After the teeth are polished with a rubber polishing cup and polishing paste, a hygienist might floss to remove any stuck polishing paste but it's not always necessary as the plaque is removed during scaling, not flossing. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call.

I feel like get the full exam with rating the gums at each tooth and the x-rays once a year. At the other cleaning it's a good cleaning but pretty quick and the dentist came in to poke around a bit to make sure there wasn't anything glaring and to ask about any sensitivity.