Brightburrow
(216) 555-0148Request an Appointment
Request an Appointment(216) 555-0148
Prevention

Cleanings & Checkups

Routine cleanings, exams, fluoride, and x-rays when they are actually indicated, on a recall interval set for your individual child rather than by policy.

A father and his young daughter brushing their teeth side by side at a bathroom mirror in morning light
Half of preventive care happens here, between the two visits we see you for.

How often does my child need a cleaning?

Most children need a cleaning and exam every six months. Children at higher risk for cavities, including those with previous decay, braces or appliances, dry mouth from medication, or certain medical conditions, are usually seen every three or four months.

We set that interval per child and we tell you which one your child is on and why. If we move your child to three months, that is a clinical decision we will explain with the reason on the screen in front of you.

What happens at a cleaning visit?

Kelsey does the cleaning first: a polish with a flavor your child picks, flossing between any teeth that touch, and fluoride varnish at the end. Then Dr. Julia or Dr. Marco comes in for the exam, checks each tooth and the soft tissue, looks at how the bite is developing, and reviews any x-rays.

We say findings out loud as we go, in plain language. If you hear a number and a tooth name and have no idea what it means, ask. Nobody here minds explaining charting notation.

When does my child need x-rays?

We take x-rays when there is a reason to, not on a fixed schedule.

For a child with no history of decay and visible spacing between the back teeth, that usually means the first bitewings around age five or six. If your child’s back teeth touch tightly, we may need them earlier, because the contact between two molars is exactly where a cavity can hide from a visual exam until it is large.

Our sensors are digital, which cuts radiation about 80 percent compared with film, and every child wears a leaded apron and thyroid collar. Two bitewings is less radiation than an hour on a plane.

What if we find a cavity?

You will see it. We take an intraoral photo or pull the x-ray up on the monitor and show you before we say anything about treatment, because “trust me, it’s there” is not a reasonable thing to ask of a parent.

Then we talk about options, which for a small cavity in a baby tooth genuinely includes watching it, and for some children includes silver diamine fluoride instead of a filling.

Last reviewed May 2026 by Brightburrow clinical staff.

Questions about this

How often does my child need a dental cleaning?

Most children need a cleaning and exam every six months. Children at higher risk for cavities, including those with a history of decay, orthodontic appliances, dry mouth, or certain medical conditions, are often seen every three or four months instead.

We set the interval per child rather than by policy, and we tell you which one your child is on and why. If your child is on a three-month schedule, that is a clinical decision we will explain, not an upsell.

Are dental x-rays safe for children?

Yes. We use digital sensors, which cut radiation by roughly 80 percent compared with the film systems most adults remember, and we use a leaded apron and thyroid collar on every child. A set of two bitewing x-rays delivers less radiation than a one-hour flight.

We take x-rays when there is a reason to, not on a fixed schedule. For most children with no history of decay and visible spacing between the back teeth, that means the first bitewings around age five or six. If your child’s teeth touch tightly, we may need them sooner, because that is where cavities hide.

How much fluoride toothpaste should my child use?

Children under three should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. Children three and older should use a pea-sized amount. Both should be supervised, and both should spit rather than rinse afterward, because rinsing washes away the fluoride that is doing the work.

Brush twice a day, and make the second time the last thing before bed with nothing to eat or drink after. Most parents are surprised by how much that one change matters. Keep brushing for your child until they can write their name in cursive, which is a rough but reliable proxy for the fine motor control brushing requires.

Does my child need dental sealants?

Most children benefit from sealants on their permanent molars. Sealants reduce cavities in the chewing surfaces of back teeth by about 80 percent in the first two years, and the deep grooves on those molars are where the large majority of childhood cavities start.

The timing that matters is soon after the tooth comes in, which is around age six for first molars and age twelve for second molars. A sealant placed before a groove starts to break down works; one placed after does not help as much. We check them at every cleaning and repair them for free if they chip.

Ready when you are

We answer every request by the end of the next business day.

Request an Appointment(216) 555-0148