What a check-up appointment covers
A hygienist removes the hardened plaque that brushing cannot shift, particularly along the gumline and between teeth. Then the dentist examines everything, including the soft tissue, and looks at any x-rays that were taken.
The point is catching things while they are small. A cavity found early is a filling. The same cavity found two years later can be a root canal and a crown, which costs many times more and takes far longer.
If it has been years since your last visit, that is genuinely common and nobody here is going to comment on it.
Book a check-up if
- It has been more than six months
- Your gums bleed when you brush
- You have a tooth that is sensitive to hot or cold
- Something feels sharp or has changed
- You are new to Dallas and need a dentist
- You are due and simply have not got round to it
What happens at the appointment
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Benefits checked first
The front desk works out what your plan covers before you sit down, so cost is not a surprise at the end.
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X-rays if they are due
Not at every visit. They are taken when there is a reason to take them.
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The cleaning
Scaling and polishing by a hygienist. Several of our reviews name Cindy and Iris specifically.
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The examination
The dentist checks the teeth, the gums and the soft tissue, and explains anything found.
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A plan if you need one
If something needs doing you are told what, why, and what it costs before you leave.
Who you will see
Dr. Shayan Azimi looks after cleanings & preventive care at our Bishop Arts practice. You see the same dentist at every visit, so nobody starts your treatment over.
What it costs, and how people pay
Price depends on what you actually need, so we look first and tell you the number before anything starts. What we can tell you now is how it gets paid for.
- Insured. In network with most major PPO plans, and your benefits get checked before treatment is planned.
- Medicaid or CHIP. Both accepted, which a lot of Dallas practices will not do.
- No insurance. Our membership plan covers cleanings, exams and routine x-rays from $30 a month, with 20% off other treatment.
- Larger treatment. Cherry, Sunbit and HFD payment plans spread the cost.
Cleanings & Preventive Care questions
- How often should I get my teeth cleaned?
- Every six months suits most people. If you have gum disease or a history of it, three visits a year is common, and that is what our perio membership tier is built around.
- Do I need x-rays every time?
- No. They are taken when there is a clinical reason, not automatically at every appointment.
- What if I have not been to a dentist in years?
- You are in the majority of new patients we see. Nobody is going to make you feel bad about it. Tell us when you book and we will talk through the options before anything gets planned.
- What does a cleaning cost without insurance?
- Our membership plan covers two cleanings, two exams and routine x-rays for a flat monthly amount starting at $30, with 20% off anything else you need. It exists exactly for this.