About Dental Cleanings & Exams
A professional cleaning and exam every six months is the single most effective thing you can do for your long-term oral health. Plaque hardens into tartar within days, and once it does, no toothbrush can remove it. Our registered dental hygienists use ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments to clear tartar above and below the gumline, polish away surface stains, and leave your teeth feeling noticeably smoother.
Every cleaning at Regency Dental Group pairs with a comprehensive exam by Dr. Lance Carter. He reviews digital X-rays when they are due, checks each tooth for decay and wear, evaluates existing fillings and crowns, screens the soft tissues of your mouth for signs of oral cancer, and measures the pockets around your gums to track periodontal health over time. Because our team has cared for many of the same Vacaville families for years, we notice the subtle changes that a first-time visit might miss.
If we find something, you will hear about it in plain language. We show you the X-ray or intraoral photo, explain what we see, describe the options, and tell you what happens if you wait. Small cavities are far easier and less costly to treat than the root canals and crowns they can turn into. Preventive visits are also the moment to talk about anything bothering you: sensitivity, bleeding gums, jaw soreness, bad breath, or a chipped edge you keep catching with your tongue.
Cleanings and exams are covered at or near 100 percent by most dental insurance plans, including the Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife and Dental Benefit Providers plans we are in network with. If you have been away from the dentist for a while, there is no judgment here. We will meet you where you are and build a simple plan to get you back on track.
Benefits
- Removes hardened tartar that brushing and flossing cannot
- Catches cavities, cracks and gum disease while they are still small and inexpensive to treat
- Includes an oral cancer screening at every exam
- Digital X-rays only when they are due, with lower radiation than film
- Typically covered at or near 100 percent by dental insurance
Is it right for you?
Everyone with teeth benefits from professional cleanings, from children age 3 and up to adults in their nineties. Twice a year is the right interval for most healthy mouths. If you have a history of gum disease, wear braces or aligners, have diabetes, smoke, or tend to build tartar quickly, Dr. Carter may recommend visits every three or four months instead. Patients with crowns, bridges, implants or dentures also benefit from regular professional care because those restorations last far longer when the teeth and gums around them stay healthy. If it has been years since your last cleaning, you are exactly who this visit is for. We routinely welcome patients who have avoided the dentist because of cost, fear or a bad experience elsewhere, and we take the first visit at whatever pace you need.
What happens, step by step
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Health history review and a conversation about anything that has changed since your last visit
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Digital X-rays when due, usually once a year for bitewings
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Periodontal charting to measure gum health
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Ultrasonic and hand scaling to remove plaque and tartar, then polishing
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Exam with Dr. Carter, including an oral cancer screening and a review of any findings with you
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Personalized home-care tips and scheduling of your next visit
What to expect at your visit
Plan on about an hour for a cleaning and exam. When you arrive, a team member will confirm your health history and any medications, because some conditions change how we approach treatment. Your hygienist will take X-rays if they are due, then measure the pockets around your gums and record the numbers so we can compare them year over year. The cleaning itself uses a gentle ultrasonic scaler that vibrates tartar loose with a fine water spray, followed by hand instruments for detail work and a polishing paste that removes surface stains. Most people find it comfortable; if you have sensitive teeth or gums, tell us and we will adjust our technique or apply a topical numbing gel.
Dr. Carter then completes your exam, checks the areas your hygienist flagged, screens for oral cancer, and talks with you about what he sees. You leave with clean teeth, a clear understanding of your oral health, and a next appointment on the calendar.
Why choose Regency Dental Group
Regency Dental Group has served Vacaville from the same Nut Tree Road office for decades, and continuity is a real clinical advantage in preventive care. Our hygienists, Betsy, Karie and Claudia, are registered dental hygienists who know many patients by name and can tell when a spot that was watching last year has changed. Dr. Carter reviews every exam personally and explains findings with the X-ray or photo in front of you, so you understand the reasoning behind any recommendation rather than taking it on faith.
We also take infection control seriously. Instruments are heat-sterilized and tracked, treatment rooms are disinfected between every patient, and we follow the current CDC and Dental Board of California guidelines. If dental anxiety has kept you away, we offer a slower pace, clear explanations, and oral sedation for patients who need more than reassurance. Our office is in network with several major PPO plans and offers CareCredit financing, so preventive care stays affordable.
Aftercare
Your teeth may feel slightly sensitive for a day if tartar was heavy or your gums were inflamed. Brush twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, floss or use interdental brushes daily, and keep your next hygiene visit. Bleeding when you floss is a sign of inflammation, not a reason to stop; it usually resolves within a week or two of consistent care.
Cost, insurance and timing
Most dental plans cover two preventive visits a year with little or no out-of-pocket cost, and we verify your benefits before you arrive. If X-rays or a deeper cleaning are needed, we will explain the cost before proceeding. Patients without insurance can ask about our fees when scheduling; preventive visits are among the least expensive services in dentistry and consistently prevent far costlier treatment later.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have my teeth cleaned?
Every six months is right for most patients. Dr. Carter may recommend every three or four months if you have gum disease, diabetes, braces, or build tartar quickly.
Does a dental cleaning hurt?
Most patients find cleanings comfortable. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive, tell your hygienist. We can adjust technique or use a topical numbing gel.
How often do I need dental X-rays?
Bitewing X-rays are typically taken once a year and a full series every three to five years, adjusted to your risk level. We use digital sensors, which need far less radiation than film.
What is included in a new patient exam?
A comprehensive exam includes a review of your health history, necessary X-rays, periodontal charting, an oral cancer screening, and a one-on-one discussion of findings and options with Dr. Carter.
The information on this page is general education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Outcomes vary by patient. Please schedule an exam to discuss your specific situation.