A professional cleaning at Piedmont Dental takes about 45 minutes. One of our hygienists removes the plaque and tartar a toothbrush can't reach, then Dr. Areheart examines your teeth and gums before you leave. You'll know the fee up front, and most plans cover preventive visits.
Prefer to talk? Call (803) 328-3886.
Your hygienist does her work, tells you what she's seeing, and gets you back to your day.
Your hygienist hand-scales along the gumline to lift off hardened tartar, the stuff that builds up even on careful brushers. Our hygiene team has been doing this at Piedmont for more than twenty years, so you are in practiced hands.
A fine polishing paste smooths the enamel so plaque has a harder time gripping it, which is why teeth feel glassy afterward. She finishes by flossing every contact point.
Dr. Areheart checks each tooth, looks at your gums, and reviews anything your hygienist flagged. If he sees a problem, you hear about it in plain English while it's still small and cheap to fix.
Plenty of our patients did too, once. Cleanings here are gentle, and if you ever need a bigger procedure, we offer IV sedation so you can relax through it.
Dr. Areheart earned his dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2011, then served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, where his residency covered advanced general dentistry. He joined Piedmont Dental in 2014 and has done the exam at the end of nearly every cleaning here since.
He has three kids of his own, so he's had a lot of practice putting reluctant patients at ease. Reviews keep circling back to the same word: gentle.
★★★★★ 5.0 average across 400+ Google reviews
“Kim does a really good job in cleaning my teeth. Courtney is very good in assisting Dr. Areheart who is a really good dentist.”
“I'm not one for dental work. But Piedmont Dental has helped me in many ways. Everyone there is very nice and sincere people.”
“I always have a great experience at Piedmont Dental. Love the staff.”
The main variable is your gum health. A routine cleaning on healthy gums is a quick, inexpensive visit. If it's been years and tartar has worked below the gumline, you may need a deeper cleaning, sometimes split across two appointments, and that's a different fee.
Either way, the front desk gives you the number before the hygienist picks up an instrument. No surprise bills afterward.
Usually, yes. Most dental plans treat cleanings as preventive care and cover two per year, often with little or no out-of-pocket cost. We file almost all insurances if your plan allows out of network providers. Our front desk will help with your specific situation. Our hygiene team includes a two-time South Carolina Dental Hygienist of the Year, so your cleaning questions are in good hands.
Children need cleanings as soon as they have teeth to clean. Baby teeth get cavities, and decay in them can affect the adult teeth waiting underneath. We see a lot of young patients, and the visits are built around keeping them relaxed rather than rushing through.
Checkups also catch the quiet stuff, like grinding wear on your enamel. If Dr. Areheart spots signs of jaw strain, TMJ treatment can stop the damage early.
Our pediatric dentistry page walks through what a child's first visit looks like.
A cleaning removes buildup and surface stain, but it won't change the underlying shade of your enamel. If your teeth feel fresh yet still look yellow in photos, a cleaning is the right first step, because whitening gel works best on freshly cleaned teeth. See our professional teeth whitening page for how that works.
Around 45 minutes for a routine visit, including Dr. Areheart's exam. If it's been several years, plan on a little longer so your hygienist isn't rushing.
Every six months works for most people. Patients with gum disease or heavy tartar buildup sometimes do better coming every three to four months. Dr. Areheart bases the recommendation on your mouth, not a blanket rule.
It shouldn't. You may feel scraping and some pressure, but our patients consistently describe cleanings here as gentle. If you have sensitive spots, tell your hygienist and she'll adjust how she works.
Then you're exactly who this appointment is for, and nobody here will make you feel bad about the gap. You may need a deeper cleaning below the gumline, which we'd explain and price before starting anything.
Yes, from toddlers through teens. We keep kids' visits calm and unhurried, and many of our young patients genuinely don't mind coming back.
Call (803) 328-3886 and tell whoever answers that it's been a while. They'll get you on the schedule without making it weird.
Call (803) 328-3886