Your cleaning tells us more than you might think.

Most offices clean your teeth and move on. Ours reads them. Every cleaning maps your oral health, catches trouble early, and tracks how your mouth handles the strain of everyday use. See what that involves below.

What we look for

Most offices diagnose it. We find what's driving it.

Most Offices
Don't check your saliva.
Note your medications and move on.
Tell you to floss more.
Recommend a night guard for grinding.
Do oral cancer screening occasionally.
The Tanglewood Approach
Your saliva's texture, wether thin or ropy, can point to cellular dehydration, not just low water intake.
We connect your medications to what we see. Statins, allergy meds, and hormone therapy all show up in your mouth in specific ways.
We find out if the inflammation is hygiene-driven or medication and hormone-driven before saying anything.
Airway restriction can drive teeth grinding. That changes the recommendation.
Every patient recieves an oral cancer screening each visit.

Every cleaning visit is six steps. In this order.

We don't start with the scaler.

01

Medical history review

Every visit. What you're taking and what you've had done changes what we look for.

02

Home care assessment

Brushing, flossing, night guard use. Honest answers get honest feedback.

03

Intraoral photos

You see what we see before we touch anything. Hard to argue with a photo of your own mouth.

04

Scaling and removal

Plaque, tartar, stain. We remove what's built up and explain why it formed where it did.

05

Periodontal charting

We measure pocket depths at every visit and explain what the numbers mean for your trajectory.

06

Goals for next time

You leave knowing what we're monitoring and what we want to see improve.

Fluoride is a mineral. In the right amount, it works.

Treatment

Fluoride remineralizes enamel. If you're sipping coffee all day, have dry mouth from medication, or have a history of cavities, your enamel is being depleted faster than it can be restored. Fluoride addresses that.

Application

We don't apply it automatically. We assess your risk factors first and explain what it's doing before we recommend it. We also carry prescription-strength ClinPro toothpaste in-office for patients who want additional protection between visits.

Recommended For

Patients with dry mouth, high acid intake, enamel thinning, recession, or a history of cavities. Honestly, most adults benefit from it.

Safety

Anything in excessive amounts causes problems. The dose in a professional application is calibrated and topical. If you have concerns, ask. We'd rather answer the question than have you leave with a worry you didn't voice.

Questions we actually get, answered without the runaround.

How often should I come in for a cleaning?

For most patients, twice a year. We'll tell you if your situation calls for something different and explain why.

I brush twice a day and floss. Why am I still building up tartar?

The mineral content in your saliva contributes to tartar formation, particularly on your lower front teeth near the sublingual gland. Dry mouth, diet, and certain medications all affect how quickly it accumulates. We'll find the driver and tell you what to do about it.

My gums bleed when I floss. Is that just because I don't floss enough?

Sometimes. But bleeding can also come from medications, hormonal shifts, or a high-inflammatory diet. We look at the tissue, ask about your situation, and give you an honest answer rather than a default one.

What's your take on electric vs. manual toothbrushes?

Electric brushes perform better in clinical terms, but the best toothbrush is the one you actually use. If you do better with manual, use manual. We'd rather you brush consistently than perfectly.

Do I need fluoride at every visit?

We recommend it for most patients, but we base it on your specific risk factors. If you have questions about whether it makes sense for you, bring it up at your appointment. We'll walk through it.

Do you take insurance for cleanings?

We're fee-for-service and out-of-network with all major PPOs. We file your claim for you and reimbursement comes directly from your insurer. Our fee schedule is on the website.

Let’s Create A Plan That Fits You.

Whether you're looking to enhance your smile or simply maintain lifelong oral health, we’re here to guide you with expert care and honest conversations.