general dentistry
Cleanings and exams: an hour that buys you years.
A cleaning removes what brushing can't — hardened tartar above and below the gumline — and the exam that follows is where small findings stay small. Most insurance covers two a year in full, which makes this the best-priced hour in healthcare.
Plan on about an hour: cleaning and polish with the hygienist, X-rays only when they're actually due, then the doctor's exam — teeth, gums, bite, and an oral cancer screening, every time.
What we're actually looking for
Cavities while they're still small enough to watch or fill cheaply. Gum pockets measured and tracked visit to visit — the early numbers of gum disease show up years before symptoms do. Wear patterns that say you grind at night. Old fillings and crowns starting to leak. And tissue changes, screened at every exam because early is everything with oral cancer.
You'll hear the findings in plain English with the X-rays on the screen, and 'let's watch it' is a real answer here — not everything spotted needs drilling.
If it's been years
Tell the front desk when you book — that's all. We'll block extra time, take it at your pace, and skip the lecture entirely; you already know how long it's been, and shame has never grown a single appointment.
If tartar has had years to build, the first visit may split into a deeper cleaning over two appointments. You'll know before we start, including what insurance picks up.
Questions we hear in the chair
- Does a cleaning hurt?
- It shouldn't — sensitivity is usually about inflamed gums or exposed roots, and the hygienist adjusts for both. Tell us where you're tender; numbing gel exists and gets used.
- Why do I need X-rays?
- Cavities between teeth and bone changes under gums are invisible to eyes alone. We take them on the schedule your risk justifies — not reflexively every visit — and show you what they show.
- What's the difference between a cleaning and a deep cleaning?
- A regular cleaning works above and just below the gumline. A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) goes below to treat gum disease, usually numb, usually by quadrant. The gum measurements decide which one your visit honestly is.
- Do you take my insurance for cleanings?
- Most major plans, yes, and most cover preventive visits fully. Text us a photo of your card and we'll confirm what's covered before your first visit.
Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.
Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.