Dental Cleaning in West Hollywood, CA

Maintaining a regular teeth cleaning schedule (preventive care) is important to keep your mouth healthy and prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues. But what is the difference between regular dental and deep cleaning? Are dental cleanings covered by insurance? Most families in West Hollywood, CA, must plan a dental cleaning every six months. At West Hollywood Dental Studio, we offer preventive (prophylactic) regular teeth cleanings and deep cleanings (scaling and root planing), depending on the health needs of your smile.

The Importance of Routine Dental Cleanings

Having your teeth professionally cleaned every six months is important for maintaining your oral health. Dental prophylaxis, more commonly known as a preventive or “regular cleaning,” involves removing plaque and tartar deposits from the surfaces of the teeth above the gumlines and just along the edges of the gums.

Cleaning your teeth helps prevent the buildup of bacteria that can lead to gum disease and cavities. For most people, regular cleanings should be performed every six months. These preventive cleanings help keep your mouth healthy between checkups.

What Is the Difference Between Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning?

When it comes to dental cleanings, there are two main types: prophylaxis (regular cleaning) and deep cleaning.

• A regular dental cleaning, or prophylaxis, removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums to prevent dental problems. It is a non-invasive procedure that helps keep teeth clean and healthy. Sometimes, there is a little plaque and minor gum inflammation, so our hygienist will talk to you about how to take care of your teeth at home to prevent or treat these problems before your next cleaning.
• Deep dental cleanings, also known as periodontal therapy, are an invasive gum disease treatment that can often go unnoticed. It involves scaling and root planing, which cleans below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar from the tooth roots. This is done when the gums have detached from the teeth, and the bone is deteriorating. This type of cleaning also helps prevent further gum disease and is often recommended for those with existing gum issues.

Regular cleaning is a preventive measure that helps to keep teeth healthy, while deep cleaning is a more intensive treatment option for those with gum disease. Both types of cleanings are important for maintaining good oral health and are recommended depending on your current oral health status.

What to Expect During a Deep Dental Cleaning

When it comes to keeping your smile healthy, a deep cleaning or scaling and root planing can make all the difference. Regular cleanings are designed to get rid of plaque and tartar on the surface of your teeth, but sometimes, they don’t reach below the gumline and cause inflammation. That’s where a deep cleaning comes in.

During a deep cleaning, our dentist or hygienist in West Hollywood uses special instruments to clean above and below the gum line. This process removes the bacteria that has built up on the roots of your teeth and allows your gums to heal and reattach to your teeth. During the procedure, you may feel some minor discomfort, but this should pass soon after it is completed. To keep you comfortable, we can also apply local anesthetic to numb those teeth during the procedure.

In most cases, we will clean one half of your mouth at one visit and then the other half of your mouth at a separate appointment. Since deep cleanings take more time and local anesthetic is usually necessary, this process ensures a more comfortable experience for our patients.

A few weeks after your deep cleaning, our dentist will check your gums to make sure they’re healing properly. You may also be prescribed antibiotics if there is a severe infection present. Our hygienist will give you instructions on how to care for your gums during the healing process, as well as tips for maintaining good oral hygiene in order to prevent future gum disease.

Overall, a deep cleaning can help protect your oral health by getting rid of plaque and tartar, preventing further gum inflammation, and restoring your smile.

Are Dental Cleanings Covered by My Insurance?

Most insurance plans cover the cost of regular dental cleanings twice a year for healthy gums, usually every six months. Regular cleanings help prevent cavities and gum disease and keep gums and teeth healthy, so it’s good for you and your insurance to have these visits covered by your benefits.

In some cases, a deep cleaning may be necessary. Deep cleanings focus on the area between your gums and teeth where gum disease already exists. If you have gum disease, a deep cleaning is necessary to get rid of bacteria and reduce inflammation, and a preventative cleaning will not be appropriate. This involves the hygienist scaling down into the pockets around the teeth and roots, removing tartar and bacteria from the area. Deep cleanings are usually partially covered by most insurance plans, though there may be some out-of-pocket costs. Depending on your policy, you may have a copay or deductible to meet in addition to the patient percentage not covered by your insurance policy.

To find out if your insurance plan covers dental cleanings, West Hollywood Dental Studio will contact your insurer to check your policy details. Knowing whether or not your regular dental cleanings are covered by insurance and by how much can help you budget for your visits and stay on top of your oral health.

Which Type of Dental Cleaning Do I Need?

Discover which type of dental cleaning is best for your smile at West Hollywood Dental Studio. Schedule your dental exam with us today! 

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Questions Answered on This Page

• The Importance of Routine Dental Cleanings
• What Is the Difference Between a Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning?
• What to Expect During a Deep Cleaning
• Are Dental Cleanings Covered by My Insurance?
• Which Type of Dental Cleaning Do I Need?

Related Topics

• Preventative Dentistry
• Dental Exams
• Dental X-Ray

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Hear From Our Patients

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Helpful links: WebMD (Dental Care) | ADA (Glossary of Dental Terms)