at Aspen Dental
Dental cleaning
at Aspen Dental
Learn how we keep your oral health at its best with our comprehensive hygiene services. Our leading care teams will help you maintain your smile and gums and prevent future dental issues down the road.
What is a dental cleaning?
Dental cleanings are professional preventive treatments that focus on helping you to maintain good oral health. When you think of a dental checkup, you’re probably thinking of hygiene services. They include routine preventative treatments to help you maintain your smile, such as: oral health assessments, cleanings, plaque, tartar and stain removal, fluoride treatments, oral cancer screenings and more.
Dental cleanings are professional preventive treatments that focus on helping you to maintain good oral health. When you think of a dental checkup, you’re probably thinking of hygiene services. They include routine preventative treatments to help you maintain your smile, such as: oral health assessments, cleanings, plaque, tartar and stain removal, fluoride treatments, oral cancer screenings and more.
Key takeaways
Cleanings remove plaque, tartar and stains to support healthy teeth and gums
Services include cleanings, exams, fluoride and preventive care tailored to you
Regular cleanings help prevent gum disease and tooth decay
Most insurance plans accepted for preventive cleanings. Medicaid not accepted
Introduction to hygiene care
Hear from one of our leading clinicians on how oral hygiene can affect your teeth, gums and bone.
Most common types of dental cleaning
Preventative teeth cleaning
Periodontal treatment
Definition
Care focused on the health of your gums, including gingivitis treatments and periodontal maintenance.
Need
For patients with healthy gums
Need
For patients with gum disease or showing signs of gum disease due to plaque buildup.
Goal
Check the health of your teeth and gums to maintain and track your current health, plus prevent issues later on.
Goal
Gingivitis treatment: Reverse gum disease
Periodontal treatment: Treat gum disease
Frequency
Every 6 months, depending on oral health
Frequency
Gingivitis treatment: 2 visits over 7-10 days
Periodontal treatment: 2 initial visits; Maintenance every 3-4 months
Our dental cleaning process
Review our step-by-step process to learn what to expect at your hygiene visit.
Your dental hygienist will gently measure between your teeth and gums using a small probe to check for signs of gum disease, inflammation or bone loss.
Using special tools, your hygienist will carefully remove sticky plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) around and between your teeth and along your gum-line.
Last, we’ll apply a fluoride gel to your teeth. The fluoride is left on for a few minutes to absorb into the enamel. This will help prevent decay and protect your enamel.
No drills.
No needles.
No worries.
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What’s the cost of hygiene services?
At Aspen Dental, your hygiene costs and dental deep cleaning (periodontal treatment) costs vary based on the specific services you need. To get an accurate estimate, contact your nearest Aspen Dental office and we’ll assess your smile for a customized care plan.
Get smiling today with 20% off dental services¹
See us today and save on all your dental care services.
¹Offer available in select offices. Not valid for previous or ongoing work and cannot be combined with other discounts or dental discount programs. Not valid on Basic or Classic dentures or orthodontia. Discount taken off usual and customary fees for general dentistry services and does not apply to services rendered by a specialist. Patients with insurance will receive either the 20% discount or insurance plan pricing, whichever discount is greater. Offer expires 12/31/26.
Benefits of preventative teeth cleanings
Protect your smile and help save money in the long run.
Regularly coming in for hygiene care helps remove anything that daily brushing and flossing can’t reach. It will help stop cavities from forming, make addressing cavities early on easier and keep your gums healthy. All of which lower the risk of tooth loss and more serious dental problems down the line.
Built-up bacteria, plaque and tartar (calculus) are common causes of bad breath (halitosis) and a yellowing smile. With a professional cleaning, your hygienist clears it all away, leaving your mouth feeling fresh. Polishing will also remove surface stains from coffee, tea or smoking so your smile looks cleaner and brighter.
Your mouth is closely linked to your body’s overall health. Gum disease has been connected to conditions like heart disease, diabetes and even respiratory issues. By keeping your teeth and gums healthy with routine hygiene services, you’re also supporting your overall wellness and preventing bigger issues with your health.
Are hygiene services covered by insurance?
Whether you have insurance or not, we help make sure your dental care stays affordable.
Most insurance accepted
We work with most providers to make care accessible as much as possible. Please note, we do not accept Medicaid.
Affordable tooth extractions even without insurance
No insurance? No worries. For only $49/year, we offer our Aspen Dental Savings Plan² so you can save up to 30% on the care you need.
²The Aspen Dental Savings Plan is NOT insurance. Please see plan terms and conditions for details.
We make dental care easier
Comprehensive care
We offer a full suite of dental services for all of your smile needs.
Same-day appointments
With same-day availability and flexible hours, seeing your provider is easy.
Flexible financing options
99% of patients who apply for 3rd-party financing are approved.
Frequently asked questions about dental cleanings
Most patients benefit from preventative dental cleanings every six months. If you have gum disease or heavy plaque buildup, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits. Regular visits keep your smile clean, maintains your gum health and prevents costly dental problems later on.
Routine preventative cleanings: Focuses on removing bacteria, plaque and tartar above your gum line and in between your teeth.
Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning): Treats gum disease by cleaning below your gum line and smoothing the surfaces of your tooth roots.
After you have your check-up, your dentist will recommend what’s right for you.
Most patients find hygiene services (dental cleanings) comfortable. You may feel light pressure or scraping but nothing that is painful. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, let your dental team know and they will adjust their technique or provide an option to numb the area so you’re comfortable throughout your treatment.
Many dental plans cover preventative cleanings twice a year at little or no cost. Periodontal maintenance may have partial coverage, depending on your plan.
Check if your insurance is accepted >