Cleanings and check-ups
Dental cleanings and check-ups in Bradenton
The cheapest appointment in dentistry, and the one that stops you needing the expensive ones.
Straight answers
What people actually want to know
What does a cleaning cost at Lake Dental?+
A routine cleaning for an existing patient runs $95 to $150, and a new patient appointment with exam and x-rays $180 to $350. Most PPO plans cover two preventive visits a year at or near 100 percent. Bite Club members have theirs included.
How often do I need one?+
Every six months for most adults. That interval catches decay while it is still a filling rather than a crown. Gum disease, a dry mouth or frequent decay usually means three or four month intervals, and we explain why.
What is a deep cleaning?+
Scaling and root planing cleans root surfaces inside gum pockets formed by gum disease. It is done under local anaesthetic over two visits at $200 to $350 per quadrant. It is treatment for a diagnosed condition, not an upgrade.
My gums bleed when I brush. Should I worry?+
You should act on it. Bleeding means inflammation, which is early gum disease and fully reversible at that stage. Left for years it destroys the bone holding your teeth in. Book rather than brushing more gently.
The longer answer on cleanings and check-ups
What the numbers mean
When the hygienist calls out numbers, those are gum pocket depths in millimetres. One to three with no bleeding is healthy. Four is early pocketing and reversible. Five and above is established gum disease with bone loss, and needs treatment plus a shorter recall interval. Ask for your numbers; they are the clearest measure of your dental health that exists.
What works at home
- Twice a day, two minutes, fluoride toothpaste. Spit, do not rinse.
- Clean between the teeth once a day. Interdental brushes beat floss where the gaps take them.
- An electric brush with a pressure sensor stops most people scrubbing too hard.
- Frequency of sugar matters more than amount. Grazing is worse than dessert.
If it has been years
Come anyway. Heavy build-up may take more than one appointment, and gums inflamed for years will bleed at the first visit. That is expected and it improves quickly.
Step by step
How it works
Talk it through
What is bothering you, and which option actually fits.
Look properly
Examination, x-rays where needed, and a digital scan.
Agree the plan
Written costs before anything starts.
Treat
Booked at a time that suits you.
Questions about cleanings and check-ups
Asked and answered
Will insurance cover it?+
Most PPO plans cover two preventive visits a year at or near 100 percent. We are in-network with DNOA, GEHA, Aetna II and Careington.
Does a cleaning whiten teeth?+
It removes surface stain, which often looks like whitening. It does not change the underlying shade.
Sensitive afterwards?+
Mild sensitivity for a day or two is common after a first cleaning in a while. Sensitivity toothpaste for a fortnight usually settles it.
Overdue a cleaning?
However long it has been, nobody here will make a thing of it.