Services
Checkups and cleanings
A regular visit to look at your child's teeth, clean them and talk about what to do at home.
How often your child comes is the dentist's call, and it can change from one year to the next.
30 to 45 minutes
Fluoride only if the dentist says so
Brothers and sisters back to back
What happens
Step by step
- 01
Step 1: Talk first
The dentist asks what you and your child have noticed since the last visit.
- 02
Step 2: Look and clean
The dentist looks at each tooth. A hygienist or dentist cleans, and may polish with a flavored paste your child picks.
- 03
Step 3: X-rays, when needed
The dentist decides if X-rays are needed, based on your child's age, teeth and history. Many visits don't need them.
- 04
Step 4: Your plan
You hear what the dentist saw and when to come back. One visit usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Good to know
Comfort, waiting, after-care and cost
Comfort
A cleaning is a scrubbing and a rinse. Tell us if your child is ticklish or doesn't like the taste of a paste.
If you wait
Plaque and sugar stay on the teeth between visits. A visit later than planned is better than none.
After the visit
Teeth can feel smooth, and gums a little tender. Fluoride varnish, if the dentist uses it, is explained first.
How it is billed
We file claims for plans we are in network with and give a written estimate in advance to families paying without insurance.
How fees work
Questions about checkups and cleanings
How often does my child need X-rays and a cleaning?
The dentist decides after looking at your child's teeth, age and history. Some children need X-rays and cleanings more often than others, and some visits need neither.
What does fluoride varnish do, and does my child need it?
Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen the outer layer of a tooth. The dentist decides whether to use it after an exam, and tells you before it is applied.
Do you take our insurance?
We are in network with some PPO dental plans and out of network with others. Give us your plan's name and we will tell you which before the visit. How fees work lists the details.
Book your child's next checkup
Provided by licensed dentists. Each dentist's license and training are on their page.