A dental cleaning and exam is a preventive visit that removes plaque and tartar and checks your mouth for decay and gum disease while problems are small. We provide routine cleanings and exams in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Problems found at a checkup are often ones you cannot feel yet. According to the CDC’s 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, nearly 21% of U.S. adults aged 20 to 64 with natural teeth had at least one tooth with untreated decay. If it has been a while since your last visit, call (310) 542-6988 to book a cleaning.
The Cleaning and the Exam Do Two Different Jobs
People often say “cleaning” for the whole appointment, but the visit has two parts, and each one can pick up things the other may miss.
The cleaning
A professional cleaning removes plaque and hardened tartar, also called calculus, from the surfaces of your teeth and along the gumline. Once plaque hardens into tartar, brushing and flossing at home will not remove it, and the bacteria in it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. After the buildup is removed, your teeth are flossed and polished.
The exam
During the exam, your dentist looks at your teeth and gums for signs of disease or damage, such as a new cavity, a worn or cracked filling, or gums that bleed or have started to pull away from the teeth. Dental X-rays may be used to see between the teeth and below the gumline, where a visual check cannot reach. If something needs attention, ask your dentist to show you what was found and walk you through the options before you decide on treatment.
How Often You Need a Cleaning and Checkup
We recommend a routine cleaning and exam every six months for most patients. Six months is a common starting point, though not a fixed rule. The American Dental Association’s position is that the interval between visits should be set by your dentist based on your own oral health, and some people need to come in more often.
A shorter interval is usually suggested if you have had gum disease, build up tartar quickly, smoke, have diabetes, or have a history of frequent cavities. After gum disease has been treated, many patients move to periodontal maintenance, a cleaning both above and below the gumline, typically every three months.
Between visits, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth once a day slow the buildup that a cleaning removes. They do not replace the cleaning, because tartar forms even with good home care.
Routine Cleaning or Deep Cleaning?
A routine cleaning is for gums that are healthy or only mildly inflamed. It works on the tooth surfaces and the shallow space where healthy gum meets the tooth, which is generally 1 to 3 millimeters deep.
When gum disease has advanced, the gum pulls away from the tooth and forms a deeper pocket. Tartar on the root inside that pocket is out of reach of a routine cleaning, and the usual treatment is scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning. Which one you need depends on measurements taken at your exam: pocket depth, bleeding, and bone levels on X-rays. If you have been told you need a deep cleaning, ask to see those measurements, because the difference between a deep cleaning and a regular cleaning comes down to them.
Stains, Tartar and What a Cleaning Can Change
Polishing at the end of a cleaning removes surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco, so teeth often look brighter afterward. Visible tartar above the gumline, which can look black or brown, is usually removed during the cleaning itself. Tartar that has formed below the gumline, on the root surface, may need scaling and root planing instead.
Polishing does not change the color of the tooth underneath. Teeth that look yellow because of their natural shade, age or deeper staining will not get lighter from a cleaning. If that is your goal, professional teeth whitening is the treatment designed for it, and a recent cleaning is a good starting point before whitening.
Cleanings for the Whole Family
Children need regular cleanings and checkups too, and because we provide general and family dentistry for every age, parents and kids can be seen at the same Artesia Boulevard office. The first visit is recommended when the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday. Visits for younger patients are covered under dental cleanings and exams for children, so the whole family can keep to the same schedule.
If dental visits make you anxious, tell us when you book and ask what can make the cleaning easier for you.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations. A routine exam is often where the need for that kind of treatment first shows up, and where it can be caught while it is still small.
What a Cleaning and Exam Cost
The cost of a routine visit depends on what it includes. A cleaning and exam on their own cost less than a visit that also needs X-rays, and at many offices a first visit as a new patient includes a more complete exam and a full set of X-rays. If the exam finds gum disease, the treatment that follows is billed separately from a routine cleaning. Ask for an estimate when you book so you know what to expect.
Most dental insurance plans treat routine cleanings and exams as preventive care, which plans often cover at a higher rate than other treatment, usually up to a set number of visits per year. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to your visit. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a teeth cleaning cost?
The cost of a teeth cleaning depends on whether it is a routine cleaning or a deep cleaning, whether X-rays and a full exam are part of the visit, and whether you are a new or returning patient. Ask Redondo Beach Dental Group for an estimate when you book.
Can teeth cleaning remove stains?
A teeth cleaning removes surface stains from foods, drinks and tobacco when the teeth are polished. It does not change the natural shade of the tooth or remove deeper discoloration, which is what professional whitening is for.
What is the difference between cleaning and deep cleaning?
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and just under the edge of healthy gums, as prevention. A deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, treats gum disease by cleaning root surfaces inside deeper pockets below the gumline, usually with the area numbed.
What is the 2-2-2 rule for teeth?
The 2-2-2 rule for teeth is a simple reminder that is usually described as brushing twice a day, for two minutes each time, and seeing the dentist twice a year. It is a useful habit, though your dentist may recommend visits more often if you have had gum disease or frequent cavities.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
Most people do well with a teeth cleaning and checkup every six months. The American Dental Association says the interval should be set by your dentist, so people with a history of gum disease or heavy tartar buildup may be asked to come in every three or four months.
Does a dental cleaning hurt?
A dental cleaning usually feels like scraping and vibration along the gumline, and most people find it uncomfortable at most rather than painful. Gums that are inflamed or teeth that are sensitive can make it more tender, so tell the team right away if anything hurts.
Does insurance cover dental cleanings and exams?
Most dental insurance plans cover routine cleanings and exams as preventive care, often at a higher rate than fillings or other treatment and up to a set number of visits each year. Coverage varies by plan, so ask how yours applies before your visit.
Book a Cleaning and Exam in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and let us know if it has been more than a year since your last checkup.