Cleanings & exams
Dental Cleanings & Exams in Greenwich, CT
A thorough visit with a hygienist who takes the time to finish the job, followed by an examination that tells you honestly what is going on in your mouth.
What it involves
A cleaning that is rushed leaves behind the deposits that matter most — below the gum line and between the back teeth — and that is one of the most common reasons patients are surprised by a gum diagnosis later on. Our hygienists take the time each visit deserves, which is why so many of our patients mention them by name.
The examination that follows covers decay, gum measurements, bite wear, older restorations that may be starting to fail, and an oral cancer screening. You leave knowing what looks healthy, what we will keep an eye on, and what needs treatment.
How often
Every six months; three or four months with active gum disease
Typical visit
About an hour for hygiene and examination together
Included
Digital X-rays as needed, gum charting, oral cancer screening
Patient rating
5.0 from 121 reviews
Who this is for
When we recommend it
- It has been six months or longer since your last cleaning and exam.
- Your gums bleed a little when you floss, and you would rather have it checked than guess.
- You are new to Greenwich and want a dentist of record before a small problem becomes a bigger one.
- An older crown or filling could use a look to confirm it is still sealed and doing its job.
- You would like an oral cancer screening included as part of a routine visit.
Step by step
How the treatment runs
- 01
Update and X-rays
We take a few minutes to review your medical history and any changes, then take digital X-rays only where there is a clinical reason to do so.
- 02
Hygiene appointment
Your hygienist cleans above and below the gum line and polishes your teeth, taking the time the visit actually needs.
- 03
Doctor's exam
Our dentist checks each tooth, your existing restorations, bite wear and soft tissue, and walks you through anything found.
- 04
Plan and interval
You leave with a clear note on what looks healthy, what we will keep watching, and when to come back.
Afterwards
What to expect once you leave
Right after
Your teeth may feel a little sensitive to cold for a few hours if the cleaning was thorough. This settles by evening.
First week
Any gum tenderness from tighter deposits eases within a few days as the tissue heals.
Long term
Kept on a six-month rhythm, most patients need little more than cleanings and small fillings for years at a time.
A new-patient visit is quoted as one figure before you arrive, covering the exam, X-rays and cleaning together, so there is no surprise at checkout.
If the exam turns up something a routine cleaning cannot address, we tell you at the chair and give you a separate written estimate rather than adding it to your bill quietly.
We accept cards and HSA or FSA funds.
Other ways to go
What we would also put in front of you
Wait another year
Possible if your gums have been stable for a long stretch, though it does mean losing the early-warning value of the visit.
Read moreCleaning only, skip the exam
Some practices offer this, but we do not recommend it, since a cleaning alone can miss decay and bite changes an exam would catch.
More frequent visits
If your gum measurements run high, a three- or four-month interval catches problems that a six-month gap would miss.
Read moreWhy patients choose us for this
Appointments that are not rushed
We schedule hygiene appointments with enough time to finish the job properly, which is one of the things our patients mention most.
You see the findings, not just hear about them
Gum measurements and X-ray findings are shown to you on screen, so you understand what we are seeing and why.
One dentist, one chart
Your exam is reviewed personally against your own history, so findings are compared to your record, not a stranger's chart.
5.0 from 121 reviews
“I've been a patient for almost 10 years. The front desk staff are always very helpful and kind. The hygienists are very thorough. Some of the best teeth cleanings I've ever had. I would recommend Greenwich Dental Studio to all.”
Q & A
Questions we are asked about dental cleanings & exams
We give you a single quoted figure by phone for a new-patient examination, X-rays and a routine cleaning before you come in. If your gums need more than a routine cleaning, we explain that at the visit and give you a written estimate rather than adding it to the bill without discussion.
Because their measurements show gum pockets that a routine cleaning cannot reach properly. We show you your own chart and numbers, and we only recommend a deep cleaning when they call for it.
Not at all. Many of our new patients arrive after a long gap. We meet you where you are and work through what is needed in a sensible order, at a comfortable pace.
A routine cleaning brings mild discomfort at most, more pressure than pain. If your gums are inflamed, it can feel a little more tender than usual, which itself tells us something useful about how they are doing.
Plan on about an hour for a new patient visit that includes X-rays and an exam. Returning patients with no findings are often finished in around forty-five minutes.
Yes. There is no downtime, and nothing about the visit affects driving or eating once any numbness from a deeper cleaning has worn off.
Nothing dramatic right away, which is exactly why it is easy to delay. Gum disease and small cavities are both painless until they are not, so a long gap between visits tends to end in a bigger appointment rather than a skipped one.
Often considered alongside
Tell us what is bothering you and we will tell you what it takes to fix it.