Teeth cleaning in Miami,
done gently and thoroughly.

Is a cleaning part of the free first visit?

No, and we would rather say that plainly than have you find out in the chair. The free first visit is an exam with Dr. Rana, a 3D scan and a digital smile preview. It does not include a cleaning, and it does not include X-rays. Both are booked as their own appointment, and you see the exact price in writing before we start.

Many people book the cleaning soon after the first visit, once Dr. Rana has seen your gums and knows whether a regular cleaning or a deeper one fits.

Regular cleaning or deep cleaning: how the call gets made

The choice comes down to measurements, not a hunch. With a thin, marked probe we check the small space between each tooth and the gum around it. Healthy gums usually measure about 1 to 3 millimeters, and they don't bleed much when touched. Readings of 4 millimeters or more, bleeding, loose teeth or bone loss on X-rays point toward gum disease.

If your gums are healthy or only a little inflamed (gingivitis), a regular cleaning plus better home care is usually enough to settle them. If the pockets are deeper and tartar has built up on the roots (periodontitis), a deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, cleans below the gumline area by area, usually with numbing. Our gum disease treatment page covers that process, and deep cleaning vs regular cleaning goes further into the difference.

Once a deep cleaning is done, the usual next step is a maintenance cleaning every three or four months or so, which helps keep the pockets from deepening again. If your gums need surgery or the disease is advanced, we refer you to a periodontist and keep seeing you for routine care.

What happens at a cleaning, step by step

A routine adult cleaning with an exam often takes about 45 minutes to an hour, longer if it has been years or X-rays are due. Here is the usual order:

• Health check-in: any new medicines, blood thinners, diabetes, pregnancy or recent surgery, since these can change how we clean and what we watch for.
• A look around: teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks and the floor of the mouth, plus a check for signs of grinding.
• X-rays, if due: only the images your history and exam call for.
• Gum measurements: pocket depths around each tooth, recorded so changes show up next time.
• Scaling: hand instruments and, for many people, an ultrasonic tool that uses vibration and a water spray to loosen hardened tartar.
• Flossing and polishing: to clear what is left between teeth and smooth the surfaces so plaque has a harder time sticking.
• Fluoride, if it helps: a quick varnish for people with a higher cavity risk.
• The wrap-up: what Dr. Rana found, what to watch, and when to come back.

Dental X-rays: why and how often

X-rays show what an exam can't: cavities forming where two teeth touch, bone levels around the roots, infections at the tip of a root and teeth that haven't come in. Our post on cavities between teeth shows why those spots are so easy to miss.

ADA and FDA guidance says X-ray timing should be based on your own risk, not a fixed calendar. As a rough idea, many adults with healthy teeth and no recent cavities get bitewing X-rays every year or two, sometimes longer, while people with frequent cavities or active gum disease may need them more often. A full set or a panoramic image is usually taken every few years, or when there is a specific reason. Digital X-rays use a low dose of radiation.

If you are pregnant or might be, tell us. Routine X-rays are often postponed, though images needed for a dental problem can still be taken with care. If another office took X-rays in the last year or two, ask them to send copies, since that may save you a repeat.

Why teeth get sensitive, and what helps

Most sensitivity during a cleaning comes from exposed root surfaces, where gums have pulled back, or from enamel worn thin by grinding, acidic drinks or hard brushing. Recent whitening can make teeth touchy for a while too.

A few things help. Brushing with a sensitivity toothpaste for two or three weeks before your visit can calm things down. Tell us which areas bother you, so we can use a topical numbing gel there, change the water temperature or switch from ultrasonic to hand instruments. If a deep cleaning is planned, local anesthetic is normal for that. If one tooth is sharply sensitive, mention it, because it can be a sign of a crack or cavity rather than gum recession.

Cleanings for kids and teens

Children's cleanings are usually shorter and gentler, with plenty of explaining and a chance to see and touch the tools first. Many kids also get fluoride varnish and, when their back adult molars come in, sealants. Our kids' dentist page explains how we approach younger patients.

Teens bring their own challenges. Braces and clear aligners trap plaque around brackets and under trays, sports and energy drinks bathe teeth in sugar and acid, and wisdom teeth start to show on X-rays in the later teen years. A cleaning is a good time to check all three. If your teen is in Invisalign or braces, tell us at check-in.

Insurance and what a cleaning costs

We accept most major dental insurance. Many plans cover preventive care, such as exams, routine cleanings and some X-rays, at a high percentage, often up to twice a year. The fine print matters: some plans count cleanings per calendar year, others require six months between visits, and X-rays often have their own frequency limits. A deep cleaning is often treated as a basic service, so a deductible and coinsurance may apply, and it counts toward your annual maximum. We check your benefits for you before your visit.

We don't list a price for cleanings here, because the visit can look quite different from one person to the next. What changes the cost:

• A regular cleaning versus scaling and root planing, which is usually priced per section of the mouth
• Whether X-rays are due, and which ones
• Whether fluoride varnish or sealants are recommended
• How much buildup there is: after several years without a cleaning, a separate first step to clear heavy tartar is sometimes needed before the gums can be fully measured
• Whether you choose oral sedation

You get the exact price in writing before anything is done. If you are paying yourself, 0% financing on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub is available for treatment. The financing page has the details.

Aftercare: the rest of the day and the months between

After a regular cleaning

You can usually eat and drink right away. If you had fluoride varnish, follow the instructions you are given, which usually means soft foods and no brushing for a few hours. Gums may feel a little tender and bleed slightly when you brush that evening. That generally settles within a day or two.

After a deep cleaning

Wait until the numbness wears off before eating, so you don't bite your cheek. Some soreness and sensitivity to cold is common for a few days. A warm salt-water rinse and a soft toothbrush help. Call or text us if you have swelling, fever or pain that is getting worse instead of better.

Until your next visit

Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily and replace your toothbrush every three or four months. Notice if your mouth often feels dry, since dry mouth raises cavity risk; our post on dry mouth and your teeth explains why. Gums that bleed most days are worth a call before your next cleaning is due.

Getting here for your cleaning

Our office is at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, at NE 30th Street in Edgewater, with building and street parking. It is a short drive from Midtown and Wynwood, and an easy stop on the way home from Downtown or Brickell, depending on traffic. Evening and Saturday times help if you can't step away from work.

About the dentist

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.

More teeth cleaning questions

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