General and preventive
Checkups and cleanings
Twice-yearly visits that catch small problems early, with a hygienist who explains what she sees instead of rushing you out.
- Visit length
- 50 to 70 minutes
- How often
- Every 6 months for most adults
- Insurance
- Usually covered at 100% by PPO plans
What to expect from checkups and cleanings
A preventive visit at Northstar is a working appointment, not a formality. Your hygienist measures gum pockets, removes tartar above and below the gumline, polishes away surface stains and shows you, on the chairside screen, the areas that need more attention at home.
One of our dentists then reviews your x-rays and intraoral photos with you. If something needs treatment, you leave with a written plan, the insurance estimate and the option to schedule at the front desk. If nothing does, we tell you that too.
What is included
Every checkups and cleanings plan at Northstar covers these steps as standard.
- 01Comprehensive or periodic exam with one of our four dentists
- 02Scaling above and below the gumline and polishing
- 03Low-dose digital bitewing x-rays when due
- 04Oral cancer screening of the tongue, cheeks and throat
- 05Gum pocket charting to track changes year over year
- 06Personal home-care notes emailed after your visit
How the process works
- 1
Check in and update
Confirm medications and any changes since your last visit. Takes about five minutes on a tablet.
- 2
Hygiene and x-rays
Your hygienist cleans, charts your gums and takes any x-rays that are due.
- 3
Doctor exam
A dentist reviews images with you on screen and checks every tooth, filling and crown.
- 4
Plan and schedule
You get a clear summary, cost estimate if needed, and your next cleaning booked before you leave.
Why patients choose it
They checked my university plan before I arrived, so the bill matched the estimate to the dollar. My hygienist was thorough and genuinely kind.
Smaller fixes
A cavity found early is a filling. Left a year, it can become a crown or root canal.
Healthier gums
Regular scaling keeps gum disease from quietly loosening teeth.
Fresh baseline
Charting and photos let us spot changes you would never feel.
Lower lifetime cost
Preventive care is the least expensive dentistry you will ever buy.
What affects the cost
Without insurance, an adult exam, cleaning and bitewings typically range from $215 to $290 (sample figures).
We share a written estimate, including your insurance portion, before treatment begins.
Insurance and financing- 1Insurance plan
- Most PPO plans cover two cleanings and exams a year in full.
- 2Gum health
- Deeper pockets may need scaling and root planing instead of a standard cleaning.
- 3X-rays due
- Bitewings are usually yearly, a full series every three to five years.
- 4Membership
- Uninsured patients can use the Northstar membership for both visits at a flat fee.
Checkups and cleanings FAQ
Plan on about an hour for a routine visit. A first visit with a full x-ray series and exam can take closer to 90 minutes.
Most patients feel pressure and some scraping, not pain. If your gums are sensitive, tell your hygienist and we can use a numbing gel or ultrasonic scaler on a lower setting.
For most adults, bitewings once a year and a full series every three to five years. We adjust based on your history, not a fixed schedule.
Yes. We book back-to-back family blocks so parents and children can be seen in one trip.
Related services
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Book your checkups and cleanings visit
Tell us what you need and when you are free. Our front desk confirms within one business day.
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