Professional cleanings that remove the plaque and tartar your toothbrush misses, done by our hygiene team in Hillcrest. Leave with smoother teeth and healthier gums.
Dental Cleanings in San Diego, CA
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A professional dental cleaning removes the plaque and hardened tartar that build up on your teeth even when you brush and floss well. Tartar bonds to the enamel and collects along and just under the gumline, and once it forms, a toothbrush cannot take it off. Left in place, it keeps the gums irritated and can lead to gum disease.
At Sunrise Dental Arts in Hillcrest, cleanings are a regular part of the dental care we provide for patients across San Diego. Our hygiene team works gently, tells you what they notice as they go, and leaves time for your questions, and Dr. Keith usually checks your teeth at the same visit.
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What Happens During a Professional Teeth Cleaning?
A routine cleaning, called a prophylaxis, follows the same basic steps at most visits. It is usually comfortable, and you can raise a hand at any point if you need a break.
Scaling Away Plaque and Tartar
Your hygienist uses small instruments to lift plaque and tartar from every tooth surface. The most attention goes to the spaces between teeth and the area along the gumline, where buildup is heaviest and hardest to reach at home.
Polishing and Flossing
Next, a slightly gritty polishing paste smooths the tooth surfaces and removes some surface stains. A final flossing clears anything left between the teeth and gives the hygienist another chance to note areas where your gums bleed easily.
A Check From Dr. Keith
Most cleaning visits end with an exam by Dr. Keith, who looks over your teeth, gums, and any X-rays taken that day. For a closer look at that part of the visit, see our dental exams page. If dental visits make you anxious, ask about nitrous oxide or our other sedation options.
Why Cleanings Protect Your Gums
Gum disease often starts quietly, with gums that bleed a little when you floss. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that plaque can harden into tartar, that only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar, and that the bacteria in plaque and tartar can inflame and damage the gums and the tissues that hold teeth in place. Regular cleanings interrupt that process before it reaches the bone.
Cleanings also give us a regular look at the edges of fillings, crowns, and bridges, where buildup can lead to new decay. Many patients come in every six months. If you have had gum disease or tend to build tartar quickly, a shorter interval may help keep things stable.
Meet the Team
Dr. Andy Keith leads a small team that takes time to get to know each patient, including your concerns, your preferences, and what you want from your dental care. As your dedicated Hillcrest dentist and support staff, we work together to keep visits comfortable and on schedule from check-in to follow-up.
We explain what we see in plain language and make sure your questions are answered before any treatment begins. If something about a visit worries you, tell us, and we will work with you to make it easier.
Services
Our Sunrise Dental Arts Care Process
- Initial Consultation
- Customized Treatment Plan
- Implementation of Treatment
- Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
- Follow-Up
Initial Consultation
At your first hygiene visit, we review your health history, ask how your gums have been feeling, and note any sensitive areas so we can work around them. Let us know if you have had a deep cleaning or gum treatment in the past.
Customized Treatment Plan
What we see decides the type of cleaning you need. Healthy gums usually need a routine cleaning, while deeper pockets or heavy buildup may call for a more involved cleaning first.
Implementation of Treatment
The cleaning moves tooth by tooth, removing tartar, polishing, and flossing. If an area is sensitive, we can slow down, change our approach, or talk with you about numbing options.
Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
Your teeth may feel smooth and a little sensitive for a day or so. We may suggest a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, a different type of floss, or a small brush for cleaning around bridges and crowns.
Follow-Up
We record your gum measurements and buildup at each visit and set your next cleaning date based on them. Many people return in about six months, and some do better with shorter gaps between visits.
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Routine Cleaning or Deep Cleaning?
A routine cleaning is meant for healthy gums, where tartar sits above or just below the gumline. If your gums have pulled away and formed deeper pockets, a routine cleaning cannot reach all of the buildup. In that case, Dr. Keith may recommend scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, or other gum disease treatment first, followed by regular maintenance visits.
You do not need perfect habits, or a recent visit, to book a cleaning. If it has been years, we start with an exam and X-rays, explain what we see, and suggest a cleaning plan that fits your gums as they are today.
Book a Teeth Cleaning in Hillcrest
Sunrise Dental Arts is at 3645 Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest. We see patients Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which can make it easier to fit a cleaning in before work. We are in-network with Delta Dental and can bill most other PPO plans out-of-network, and we offer payment options for costs your plan does not cover.
Keeping up with cleanings is one of the easiest ways to avoid larger dental work later. Request an appointment online or call (619) 291-2980 to schedule your next cleaning.
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Dental Cleaning FAQs
How Often Should I Get My Teeth Cleaned?
Many people come in every six months. If you have had gum disease, build up tartar quickly, or have certain health conditions, Dr. Keith may suggest more frequent visits. The right interval depends on how your gums respond between cleanings.
Does a Dental Cleaning Hurt?
Most people find a routine cleaning comfortable. You may feel some scraping and pressure, and areas with inflamed gums can be tender. Tell your hygienist if anything is uncomfortable so they can slow down or adjust. Nitrous oxide is available for patients who feel anxious.
What Is the Difference Between a Regular Cleaning and a Deep Cleaning?
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and just below the gumline when the gums are healthy. A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, reaches further below the gumline to clean root surfaces when gum disease has created deeper pockets. Dr. Keith recommends a deep cleaning only when your gum measurements and X-rays show it is needed.
Why Do My Gums Bleed During a Cleaning?
Bleeding usually means the gums are inflamed, often from plaque sitting along the gumline. It is a common early sign of gum disease, and it often improves once the buildup is removed and daily flossing becomes a habit. If bleeding continues, we will check for deeper problems.
Is a Teeth Cleaning Covered by Insurance?
Many PPO plans cover routine cleanings, often twice a year. We are in-network with Delta Dental and can bill most other PPO plans out-of-network, and our team can confirm your coverage before your appointment. If you need a deep cleaning or other treatment, we will go over the cost with you first.
