Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
A dental cleaning in Pompano Beach at South Florida Smile Spa is an hour that does more for your teeth than anything else on the calendar. It is also the visit most people know least about: what the hygienist is scraping, what the numbers she calls out mean, why the X-rays are taken when they are, and what Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS is actually looking for when she comes in at the end. This page walks through all of it, so you know what is happening and why.
Quick answer
A dental cleaning and exam at South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach takes about an hour and has five parts: a review of your health and medications; digital X-rays when they are due, usually bitewings once a year; a periodontal measurement at six points around every tooth, with readings of 1 to 3 mm healthy and 4 mm or more a sign of gum disease; the cleaning itself, removing plaque and tartar above and just below the gumline and polishing; and an exam by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS of every tooth, every filling and crown, the bite, and an oral cancer screening. Most patients come every six months; patients with a history of gum disease come every three to four. Most insurance plans cover two cleanings and exams a year in full.
Cleanings and Exams
The visit, step by step
- Health and medication review. New diagnoses, new prescriptions, blood pressure if it is relevant. Blood thinners, bisphosphonates, diabetes and dry-mouth medications all change how we treat you.
- X-rays, if due. Bitewings show cavities between the teeth and bone levels; a panoramic or full-mouth series shows roots, jaw and sinuses. See the schedule below.
- Periodontal charting. A slim probe measures the gap between gum and tooth at six points per tooth. The hygienist calls out numbers; this is the gum disease exam, and the numbers are explained below.
- The cleaning. An ultrasonic scaler vibrates tartar loose and rinses it away, hand instruments finish the surfaces the ultrasonic cannot reach, then polishing and flossing. Fluoride varnish if you are prone to cavities or sensitivity.
- The exam. Dr. Berger reviews the X-rays and chart, checks every tooth and restoration, your bite and jaw joints, and performs the oral cancer screening. You leave with a plan, or with the news that nothing needs doing.
What the numbers mean during periodontal charting
| Reading | What it means | What usually happens next |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 mm, no bleeding | Healthy gum attachment | Regular cleaning every six months |
| 1 to 3 mm with bleeding | Gingivitis: inflammation without bone loss, fully reversible | Regular cleaning, home-care coaching, recheck in three to six months |
| 4 to 5 mm | Early to moderate periodontitis: the attachment has started to break down | Scaling and root planing, then maintenance every three to four months |
| 6 mm or more | Advanced periodontitis with bone loss | Scaling and root planing, re-evaluation, sometimes periodontal surgery |
Regular vs. Deep
Regular cleaning, deep cleaning, and periodontal maintenance
These are three different procedures, chosen from your periodontal chart, and insurance treats them differently, which is where most of the confusion comes from.
- Regular cleaning (prophylaxis). For healthy gums or gingivitis. Plaque and tartar are removed from the crowns of the teeth and just below the gumline. Preventive; usually covered in full twice a year.
- Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing). For pockets of 4 mm or more. The root surfaces inside the pockets are cleaned and smoothed under local anesthetic, usually one side of the mouth per visit. A treatment, not a cleaning; covered as periodontal therapy.
- Periodontal maintenance. After a deep cleaning, the visit that replaces the regular cleaning every three to four months, because the bacteria re-establish in about ninety days. It goes below the gumline where a regular cleaning does not.
If you have been told you need a deep cleaning and are not sure why, ask to see your chart. The numbers decide it, and you are entitled to see them.
Which X-rays, and how often
X-rays find what the eye cannot: decay between teeth, decay under old fillings, bone loss, infection at a root tip, and problems with wisdom teeth. Our digital sensors use a fraction of the radiation of film, and the schedule is set by your risk rather than by habit.
- Bitewings, two to four small images of the back teeth: about once a year for most adults, every six months for patients with active decay, every 18 to 24 months for patients who rarely get cavities.
- Full-mouth series or panoramic: at a first visit to establish a baseline, then every three to five years, or sooner if something needs investigating.
- 3D cone beam (CBCT): not routine; taken when implants, extractions or a hard-to-diagnose toothache call for it.
If you have recent X-rays from another office, have them sent over and we will use them rather than repeat them. The American Dental Association’s patient guidance on dental X-rays covers why they are taken and how often.
Your first visit as a new patient
A first visit is longer than a routine one, about 90 minutes, because the baseline has to be built: a full set of X-rays or a panoramic, full periodontal charting, photographs of your teeth, and a longer exam. If your gums are healthy the cleaning is done the same day. If the charting shows deeper pockets or there is heavy tartar, the cleaning is scheduled as a deep cleaning instead, because doing a regular cleaning on diseased gums treats nothing. You leave with a written summary of what we found, in priority order. If you have been away from the dentist for years, that is a normal first visit here, not an unusual one, and if anxiety is part of the story, nitrous oxide is available for the cleaning. The new patient page covers forms and what to bring.
Between visits: what actually moves the needle
Two minutes twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, angled into the gumline rather than scrubbed across the teeth. Cleaning between the teeth once a day, with floss or a water flosser, because the brush does not reach there and that is where most adult cavities and gum disease start. Spitting rather than rinsing after brushing, so the fluoride stays on. Less frequent snacking and sipping of anything sweet or acidic, which matters more than how much. Our dental hygiene page goes into technique, electric brushes, dry mouth and sensitivity.
Cost and insurance
Most dental insurance plans cover two regular cleanings and exams per year, plus routine X-rays, at 100 percent with no deductible. Deep cleaning and periodontal maintenance are covered as periodontal services, usually at 50 to 80 percent, up to the plan’s annual maximum. Our team verifies your benefits before the visit and tells you what, if anything, you will owe. Patients without insurance receive the fee up front. Dr. Berger’s note on using benefits before they reset explains why a second cleaning in December is worth scheduling.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for cleanings and exams
- Full charting every time. Six-point periodontal measurements at every cleaning, not just at the first visit, so gum changes are caught as numbers.
- An hour, not twenty minutes. Hygiene appointments are long enough to do the cleaning properly and talk about what we found.
- Comfort options for a cleaning. Numbing gel for sensitive gums, nitrous oxide for anxious patients, and a deep cleaning done under local anesthetic rather than toughed out.
- A doctor’s exam, every visit. Dr. Berger sees you at every cleaning, reviews the X-rays and chart, and does the oral cancer screening herself.
- Judgment-free. Years between cleanings is a starting point, not a lecture.
Patients come to us for dental cleanings and exams from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek. If it has been more than a year, the first appointment is the one that matters most; call and we will find a time.
Due for a cleaning, or overdue
Book a cleaning and exam. In about an hour you will know exactly where your teeth and gums stand, and what, if anything, needs doing next.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a dental cleaning take?
About an hour for a routine cleaning and exam, including any X-rays due and the periodontal charting. A first visit is about 90 minutes because the full baseline records are taken. A deep cleaning is scheduled separately, usually one side of the mouth per visit, about an hour each.
Why do my gums bleed when they are cleaned?
Bleeding during cleaning or flossing is inflammation, which means there is plaque or tartar the gum is reacting to. It is not caused by the cleaning and it is not a reason to avoid flossing. With a thorough cleaning and good home care, gingivitis reverses and the bleeding stops within a week or two. Bleeding that persists after that points to periodontitis and is checked on the chart.
Does a cleaning whiten teeth?
It removes surface stain from coffee, tea, wine and tobacco, so teeth often look noticeably brighter afterward. It does not change the underlying shade of the tooth; that takes whitening. A cleaning is the right first step before whitening, because stain and tartar block the whitening gel.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Yes. A set of digital bitewings exposes you to about the same radiation as a day or two of normal background exposure, and we take only the images your risk calls for. Tell us if you are pregnant; routine X-rays are usually deferred, and necessary ones are taken with a lead apron. Recent X-rays from another office can be transferred instead of repeated.
What is the difference between a cleaning and a deep cleaning?
A regular cleaning removes deposits from the crowns of the teeth and just below the gumline and is preventive. A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, treats gum disease by cleaning the root surfaces inside pockets of 4 mm or deeper, under local anesthetic. Which one you need is decided by the periodontal measurements, which you are welcome to see.
Can I have a cleaning if I am pregnant?
Yes, and you should. Pregnancy hormones make gums more prone to inflammation, and gum disease during pregnancy is linked to poorer outcomes, so routine cleanings are recommended throughout. Tell us you are pregnant so X-rays can be deferred and any treatment timed for the second trimester where possible.
I am nervous about the cleaning. What can you do?
Tell us when you book. Numbing gel takes the edge off sensitive gums, nitrous oxide takes the edge off nerves and wears off in minutes, and the hygienist will stop whenever you raise a hand. For patients whose anxiety runs deeper, Dr. Berger has written a guide to dental anxiety and sedation, and oral or IV sedation is available for longer treatment visits.
Does insurance cover cleanings and exams?
Almost always: two regular cleanings and exams a year, plus routine X-rays, at 100 percent with no deductible on most plans. Deep cleanings and periodontal maintenance are covered at a lower percentage as periodontal services. Our team checks your plan before the visit and tells you what, if anything, you will owe.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come for cleanings and exams from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.