Don’t Forget Your Second Dental Cleaning This Year

People with healthy teeth and gums tend to benefit from a preventative dental cleaning every six months. That’s twice a year! If you’re due up for your second dental cleaning in 2021 or haven’t had one since the pandemic shutdown, it’s time to visit our dentist in Downtown San Diego.

What is a Dental Cleaning?

Prophylactic dental cleanings are 100% prevention-focused. They involve gently removing plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and gumlines, then polishing your teeth to lift away surface stains. The average dental cleaning appointment takes about 45 minutes or just under an hour to complete.

During your cleaning, we’ll also assess your gum health, bone levels, bite, and screen for disease. We’ll make you aware of any visible issues so that you can plan accordingly.

Dental cleanings are about prevention. You want to schedule them even if you don’t “need” to see a dentist in San Diego because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. The modest investment more than pays for itself over the years to come.

Other Types of Dental Cleanings

For individuals with a bit more buildup or gum health concerns, there are additional phases of cleanings. Such as debridements or deep cleanings. These visits are when there is a significant gum infection and buildup across the teeth. Usually, you won’t have to worry about a debridement or deep cleaning if you’re scheduling a checkup and preventative cleaning every six months. Especially if you’re keeping up with your brushing and flossing.

Generally speaking, the longer the length of time between dental cleanings, the greater the risk there is for tartar buildup and gum disease. Keeping up to date with your six-month cleanings is the first step in having healthy teeth that last a lifetime.

Why the Rush?

Most people use the end of the calendar year to catch up on their dental needs. Especially if they’re hoping to maximize the coverage included in their insurance or health savings plan. Since benefits reset on January 1st, you have to use up your coverage by December 31st. Anything you don’t use, you lose. But the time crunch also means people are scrambling to get those last-minute appointments before the holidays, making it harder to find one that fits into your schedule. That’s why it’s best to plan ahead.

When you schedule your dental cleaning in Downtown San Diego today, you still have plenty of time to whiten your smile before the holiday parties get here. A clean, bright smile is one of the best ways to look your best now that we’re all going out in public again. But wait too long and you might not have as much flexibility with your schedule. It’s best to get ahead. In fact, many of our clients prefer to book their dental cleanings out six months ahead of time.

Dental Cleaning Pricing

How much does a dental cleaning cost? Pricing depends on your age (adult vs. child), whether or not you have any active periodontal disease, and even missing teeth. But there’s a reason why most dental insurance companies cover two dental cleanings a year: they pay for themselves.

Preventative dental care is a modest investment in delaying otherwise preventable oral health issues. With professional cleanings, you can spot issues early, while they’re still reversible. Whereas if you skip your cleanings, you might not know active gum disease or tooth decay is creeping up behind you. Your cleanings are worth every penny!

As a fee for service practice, you pay for your dental cleaning but we file an insurance claim on your behalf. Once your carrier processes the paperwork, they mail you a check for the amount that they cover. You’ll know exactly how much your cleaning costs at the time of scheduling, so there are no surprises.

Dental Cleaning Near You

Due for your six-month dental cleaning? Turn to AlignBar for your next dental cleaning (Downtown San Diego.) Contact us today to schedule, before our 2021 appointments run out!