Exams & cleanings

The appointment that prevents the other eight.

Nothing on this website is cheaper or duller than a six-month check-up, and nothing else on it saves as much money. Most of what we treat was once something we could have watched.

Request Appointment Call (516) 747-2400

What the visit covers

The examination

Every tooth, every existing filling and crown, your bite, and a check of the soft tissue including an oral cancer screening.

The gums

Measured, not glanced at. Gum disease is painless until it is advanced, which is exactly why it gets missed.

The cleaning

Scaling and polishing to remove what brushing cannot reach, with the areas you are missing pointed out.

How often should you come?

Six months suits most people. Some need more.

Every six months is the sensible default for someone with healthy gums and few restorations. It is frequent enough to catch decay while it is still small, and to see a gum pocket deepen before it takes bone with it.

More often is genuinely better if you have treated gum disease, grind your teeth, smoke, are diabetic, are pregnant, or have a mouth full of older restorations that need watching. We will tell you which applies to you and why, rather than simply booking you in more often.

Questions

Asked often.

It has been years. Will I get a lecture?

No. It is one of the commonest reasons people come here and it is the reason Dr. Lizzio built the practice the way she did. Tell us when you book.

Does a cleaning hurt?

It should not. If your gums are inflamed it can be tender, and Sabrina is certified in local anaesthesia specifically so that a cleaning need not be uncomfortable. Say something rather than gripping the chair.

Will I need X-rays every time?

No. Frequency depends on your decay risk and what we can already see. Digital X-rays are a small fraction of the dose of the film ones people remember.

Can I get a cleaning on a Saturday?

Yes, we are open Saturday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Those appointments book up first.