Dental Cleaning in Chicago, IL

What a dental cleaning at AAP Dental includes

A dental cleaning at AAP Dental includes a dental examination, scaling, polishing, and a review of your home care in one 45 to 60 minute visit. Digital X-rays are taken when the dentist needs to check between the teeth or below the gum line, because decay and bone loss are not visible to the eye.

• Examination: the dentist checks every tooth for decay, worn fillings, cracks, and gum inflammation, and screens the soft tissue of the mouth, which is the same visit in which oral cancer screening is performed.
• Scaling: the hygienist removes plaque and hardened tartar from the tooth surfaces and just below the gum line with ultrasonic and hand instruments, because tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush.
• Polishing: a mild abrasive paste removes surface stain from coffee, tea, and tobacco and leaves the enamel smooth, so plaque attaches more slowly.
• Flossing and fluoride: the hygienist flosses every contact and, when the dentist recommends it, applies a fluoride treatment that strengthens the enamel for the next 3 to 6 months.
• Home care plan: the team shows you brushing and flossing technique and sets the interval for your next cleaning, which is 6 months for most patients.

Dental cleaning cost and the $49 new patient offer

A dental cleaning at AAP Dental costs $49 for new patients as a combined examination and cleaning offer, and the offer applies to new patients only. For returning patients, the fee for a cleaning depends on your insurance plan, because most traditional dental insurance plans cover two preventive cleanings per year at 100 percent of the allowed fee.

AAP Dental accepts most traditional dental insurance plans and does not participate in HMO plans. Payment options include CareCredit financing, flexible payment plans, cash, checks, and credit cards. Call (773) 763-3600 before the visit to verify coverage, or review the new patient specials page for the current offer terms.

What a dental cleaning treats and the results to expect

A dental cleaning treats plaque, tartar, surface stain, and early gingivitis, and the results appear at the end of the visit: smooth teeth, fresher breath, and gums that bleed less within 1 to 2 weeks. Gingivitis is reversible because the inflammation is caused by bacteria in plaque, and removing the plaque removes the cause.

• Plaque and tartar removal lowers the bacterial load that causes cavities and gum disease.
• Bleeding and swollen gums improve within 1 to 2 weeks of a cleaning combined with daily flossing.
• Surface stains lift during polishing, which brightens teeth by a shade without bleaching. Deeper discoloration needs take-home teeth whitening.
• Early decay is found while it is small, so a tooth needs a tooth-colored filling rather than a crown or an extraction.

Who needs a dental cleaning and how often

Adults and children need a dental cleaning every 6 months, and patients with a history of gum disease need a periodontal maintenance cleaning every 3 to 4 months. AAP Dental treats adults and children, and the 6 month interval matches the two preventive visits per year that most insurance plans cover.

Patients with diabetes, pregnant patients, smokers, and patients with braces or aligners benefit from a shorter interval because plaque builds faster or causes more damage in those conditions. Patients with deep pockets or bone loss are treated with gum disease therapy instead of a standard cleaning, because a standard cleaning does not reach below 3 millimeters.

Before, during, and after your dental cleaning

Dental Cleaning at AAP Dental follows 3 stages: preparation, the visit itself, and aftercare, and each stage has its own instructions below.

Before the dental cleaning

Complete the new patient questionnaire online before the visit, bring your insurance card, and list the medications you take, because blood thinners and bisphosphonates change how the team plans your care.

During the dental cleaning

1. The dentist or hygienist reviews your health history and takes digital X-rays when needed.
2. The hygienist measures the gum pockets around each tooth in millimeters. Healthy pockets measure 1 to 3 millimeters.
3. Scaling removes plaque and tartar, then polishing and flossing finish the surfaces.
4. The dentist examines the teeth, gums, tongue, and throat and explains any findings.

After the dental cleaning

Eat and drink normally after the cleaning unless fluoride was applied, in which case wait 30 minutes. Mild gum tenderness resolves within 24 hours. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day, because plaque reforms within 24 hours of brushing.

Dental cleaning vs deep cleaning

A dental cleaning differs from a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) by depth: a cleaning treats the tooth surfaces and the first 3 millimeters below the gum line, while a deep cleaning treats pockets of 4 millimeters or more and the root surfaces, usually under local anesthetic across 2 visits.

Choose a dental cleaning when your gums are healthy or mildly inflamed. Choose deep cleaning when the dentist measures pockets of 4 millimeters or more or sees bone loss on X-rays.

Why choose AAP Dental for dental cleaning in Chicago

• Dr. Eduard Vernovsky, DDS, a 1993 graduate of Northwestern University Dental School, and Dr. Myung Jin Nam, DDS, a prosthodontics-trained dentist, examine every patient.
• AAP Dental uses digital X-rays, which expose patients to less radiation than film X-rays and show results on screen in seconds.
• Saturday hours from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM fit cleanings around work and school schedules.
• New patients pay $49 for an examination and cleaning, and AAP Dental accepts most traditional insurance plans and CareCredit.
• AAP Dental treats adults and children, so a family can book its cleanings at one Harlem Avenue office.

Dental cleaning near Harlem Avenue: location and hours

AAP Dental Group sits at 5037 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Foster Avenue on the Northwest Side. Patients come from Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Edison Park, and Park Ridge, all within 15 minutes of the office. Weekday hours at AAP Dental run Monday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Saturday hours run 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and the office closes on Sunday. Street parking is available on Harlem Avenue and the side streets.

Dental Cleaning questions

Dental Cleaning patients at AAP Dental Group ask these 5 questions most often, and each answer below is the dentist’s short reply.