CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Teeth cleanings in Jacksonville, FL.
Planned around what your gums actually need.
A dental cleaning removes the plaque and hardened tartar your toothbrush can’t reach. At our San Marco office in Jacksonville, the type of cleaning and how often you come back are based on your own gum measurements, which we show you, not on a default schedule or a guess.
- 47%of U.S. adults 30 and older had periodontitis in a national exam survey1
- ~3×higher risk of periodontitis in people with diabetes2
- ~2 hoursfor a new patient visit, so nothing is rushed
- 1 dentistDr. Henley sees every patient himself
Top-rated on Google: 4.9 stars from more than 225 patient reviews.
Teeth cleaning in Jacksonville
What happens at a cleaning and exam here.
Your first visit runs about two hours. We review your health and medications, Dr. Henley does a comprehensive exam and oral cancer screening, we take X-rays only if they’re needed, and the cleaning is planned around what your gums show. Then we talk through findings and fees without hurrying.
A first visit here is slower than most people expect, on purpose. Two hours gives us time to learn your history and look properly before anyone picks up an instrument.
Your first visit, in order
- Health and medication review. Diabetes, blood thinners, bone medications, cancer treatment, and anything that dries your mouth all change how we care for your teeth and gums.
- Comprehensive exam. Dr. Henley checks every tooth, your bite, existing fillings and crowns, and your jaw joints. More on that on our comprehensive exam page.
- Gum measurements. We measure the pockets around each tooth and note where the gums bleed. These numbers decide what kind of cleaning makes sense.
- X-rays only when needed. Not every visit calls for them, and we decide based on your history and exam.
- Oral cancer screening. A look and feel of your tongue, cheeks, throat, and neck. See oral cancer screening for what that involves.
- The cleaning. Removing plaque and tartar above and, where needed, below the gumline, then polishing.
- A real conversation. What we found, what’s urgent and what isn’t, and the fee for each step in writing before treatment starts.
Dr. Henley sees every patient himself. There are no rotating associates and no treatment coordinator between you and the person who examined you. If you’re new, our new patients page explains what to bring.
Deep cleaning vs. regular cleaning
Three kinds of cleaning, and who each one is for.
A regular cleaning is for healthy gums or gingivitis. A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) treats periodontitis, where bacteria and tartar have moved below the gumline and bone has been lost. Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing cleaning that follows, usually on a shorter schedule than twice a year.
| Regular cleaning (prophylaxis) | Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) | Periodontal maintenance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Healthy gums, or gingivitis with no bone loss | Active periodontitis: deeper pockets, attachment and bone loss | People who have been treated for periodontitis |
| What’s cleaned | Tooth surfaces above and just at the gumline | Root surfaces below the gumline, down to the bottom of the pockets | Above and below the gumline, focused on known problem areas |
| Numbing | Usually not needed | Usually done with local anesthetic | Sometimes, for deeper areas |
| Visits | One | One or more, then a re-evaluation several weeks later | Recurring, often every three or four months |
| What it aims to do | Keep healthy gums healthy and reverse gingivitis | Reduce inflammation and pocket depth so the gums can tighten back up3 | Keep periodontitis stable and catch flare-ups early |
Do I really need a deep cleaning?
How we decide, and why we show you the numbers.
We decide based on pocket depths, attachment loss, bone levels on X-rays, and bleeding, all measured at your comprehensive exam. Bleeding by itself doesn’t mean you need a deep cleaning; it often points to gingivitis, which a regular cleaning and better home care can reverse. You see the measurements before anything is recommended.
What we measure
- Pocket depth. A thin, blunt probe slides gently between tooth and gum at six spots per tooth. Healthy gums usually measure 1 to 3 millimeters. Readings of 4 millimeters or more get a closer look.
- Attachment loss. Whether the gum and bone have actually detached from the root, which is what separates periodontitis from gingivitis.
- Bone levels. X-rays show whether bone around the roots has been lost, and where.
- Bleeding. We note it, but we don’t treat it as a verdict on its own.
A deep pocket in one spot, around a single tooth, doesn’t call for a full-mouth deep cleaning. Sometimes one area needs scaling and root planing and the rest needs a regular cleaning. When periodontitis is present, an American Dental Association expert panel recommends scaling and root planing as the first nonsurgical treatment.3 After it, we re-measure to see how the gums responded.
We’ll show you your chart and explain which numbers concern us and why. If the bone loss is advanced or surgery looks likely, Dr. Henley refers you to a periodontist.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
Every six months isn’t a rule. It’s a starting point.
How often you need a cleaning depends on your gums, your cavity history, and your health. Some people do well on six months or longer; people treated for periodontitis often need every three or four months. The research doesn’t support one fixed interval for everyone, so we set yours from your own exam.
The six-month checkup is a habit more than a finding. A Cochrane review of randomized trials compared six-month recalls with risk-based recalls (spacing visits by each person’s risk) in adults who see a dentist regularly. Over four years it found little to no difference in cavities, gum bleeding, or quality of life between the two.4 Another Cochrane review looked at routine scale-and-polish for adults without severe gum disease and found it made little difference to gingivitis or pocket depths over two to three years, though it did reduce tartar a bit.5
That doesn’t make cleanings pointless. Those trials mostly involved lower-risk people who already came in regularly. It means a person with healthy gums and little tartar needs a different schedule than someone with diabetes and a history of periodontitis.
How we set your interval
- Healthy gums, few cavities, little tartar. Often six months, sometimes longer.
- Gingivitis or heavy tartar buildup. Sometimes shorter for a while, until things settle.
- Treated periodontitis. Periodontal maintenance, commonly every three or four months.
- Higher medical or cavity risk. Tailored to the risk; see the list below.
Your interval can change. If your measurements improve, we may space visits out. Good daily care matters more than any schedule, and our home care instructions are a good place to start.
X-rays and fluoride
X-rays when they’ll tell us something. Fluoride when it’ll help.
We take dental X-rays only when they’re needed for your situation, not on a fixed calendar. Fluoride is offered based on your cavity risk. People with dry mouth, exposed roots, or frequent cavities usually benefit most; for many low-risk adults, a fluoride toothpaste may be enough.
X-rays
The ADA and FDA guidance on dental X-rays says the type and timing should depend on each person’s history and exam, and that X-rays shouldn’t be used as a screening step before the dentist has examined you. For adults with a low cavity risk, it suggests bitewing X-rays roughly every two to three years.6 That’s close to how we work. When we do need images, our digital imaging page explains what we use.
Fluoride
For people at higher risk of cavities, an ADA expert panel recommends professionally applied fluoride varnish or gel, or a prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste or gel used at home.7 Those are the people who tend to benefit most: dry mouth, recession with exposed roots, lots of crowns and fillings, or new cavities at recent visits. If your risk is low, we won’t push it. If you’re trying to sort out which toothpaste to buy, read the ultimate toothpaste guide.
Higher-risk patients
Who usually needs cleanings more often.
Diabetes, smoking, dry mouth, GLP-1 medications, head and neck radiation, and a history of periodontitis all raise the risk of gum disease or cavities. People in these groups often do better with shorter intervals between cleanings, extra fluoride, or both. We plan that with you at the exam.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are roughly three times as likely to develop periodontitis, and gum inflammation can make blood sugar harder to control. Treating periodontitis has been associated with a modest drop in HbA1c.2 Tell us your most recent A1c if you know it.
Smoking
Current smokers have higher rates of periodontitis.1 Smoking also reduces gum bleeding, which can hide disease that’s actually there. That’s one more reason we rely on measurements rather than how the gums look.
Dry mouth
Saliva rinses and protects teeth. Many common medications reduce it, and cavities along the gumline can follow quickly. See dry mouth for causes and what helps.
GLP-1 medications
Nausea, vomiting, and reflux are common side effects of medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, and eating and drinking habits often change. Any of these can affect teeth. Our GLP-1 page covers it in more detail.
Head and neck radiation
Radiation to the head and neck can permanently reduce saliva and raise the risk of fast-moving cavities. These patients usually need close follow-up, custom fluoride trays, and careful cleanings for life. See head and neck cancer dental care.
A history of periodontitis
Once periodontitis has been treated, it can come back. Periodontal maintenance, often every three or four months, is how we keep an eye on it and clean areas you can’t reach at home.
Dental cleanings in San Marco
Comfort, fees, and insurance.
Our hygiene room has a fireplace and ceiling TVs, and nervous patients can choose nitrous oxide, an anti-anxiety pill the night before, or oral sedation. We’re out of network, but many dental plans still pay part of a cleaning, usually with limits on how often. You get the fee in writing first.
If cleanings make you anxious
If the last cleaning was rough, tell us what bothered you and we’ll work around it.
- The room. A hygiene room with a fireplace, and TVs in the ceiling so you have something to watch besides the light.
- Numbing for deep cleanings. Scaling and root planing is usually done with local anesthetic.
- Sedation options. Nitrous oxide, an anti-anxiety pill the night before, or oral sedation with triazolam for adults (minimal sedation; you’ll need a driver). We don’t offer IV sedation. More on our sedation dentistry page.
- Snapper. Our dental therapy dog visits when the schedule allows.
Insurance and fees
We’re an out-of-network practice. Many dental plans still pay part of the cost of cleanings and exams, and our team will help you understand how to use your benefits. Plans often limit how many cleanings they cover in a year, and they usually treat a regular cleaning, scaling and root planing, and periodontal maintenance as different services with different rules. You’re responsible for whatever your plan doesn’t pay.
What affects your fee: whether you need a regular cleaning or periodontal treatment, how many areas are involved, whether X-rays are needed, and whether you choose sedation. Call with your plan details and we’ll talk through fees and payment arrangements. See dental insurance and payment and what to know about out-of-network dental insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about dental cleanings.
Where can I get a teeth cleaning in Jacksonville?
CJ Henley, DMD, PA is at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in San Marco in Jacksonville. New patient visits run about two hours and include a comprehensive exam, gum measurements, an oral cancer screening, X-rays only if needed, and a cleaning planned around your gums. Call 904.398.1549 or request an appointment.
What’s the difference between a deep cleaning and a regular cleaning?
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces at and above the gumline, for healthy gums or gingivitis. A deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, cleans the root surfaces below the gumline when periodontitis has caused deeper pockets and bone loss. It’s usually done numb and followed by a re-check several weeks later.
My gums bleed. Does that mean I need a deep cleaning?
Not necessarily. Bleeding often means gingivitis, which a regular cleaning and better brushing and flossing can reverse. Deep cleaning is for periodontitis, where the gum has detached from the root and bone has been lost. We decide from pocket measurements and X-rays, and we show you those numbers. Read more about gingivitis.
How often should I get my teeth cleaned?
It depends on you. Many people with healthy gums do well at about six months, and some can go longer. People treated for periodontitis often need every three or four months. A Cochrane review found little difference between six-month and risk-based recalls for regular attenders, which is why we base your interval on your own exam.
Do I need X-rays at every cleaning?
No. We take X-rays only when they’re needed for your situation. For adults at low risk of cavities, national guidance suggests bitewing X-rays roughly every two to three years. If you’ve had X-rays recently elsewhere, let us know at your visit.
Does a deep cleaning hurt?
Scaling and root planing is usually done with local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than sharp pain. Gums can be tender and teeth a little sensitive for a few days afterward. If you’re anxious, we can talk about nitrous oxide or other sedation options ahead of time.
What is periodontal maintenance, and why isn’t it a regular cleaning?
Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing cleaning for people who’ve been treated for periodontitis. It reaches below the gumline in areas that have lost support, and we re-measure to watch for changes. It usually happens more often than twice a year. Insurance plans generally treat it as a separate service from a regular cleaning. See gum disease.
Do adults need fluoride treatments?
Some do. Professionally applied fluoride or prescription-strength toothpaste is recommended for people at higher risk of cavities, such as those with dry mouth, exposed roots, or frequent new cavities. If your risk is low, a fluoride toothpaste at home may be all you need. Our toothpaste guide can help you choose.
Do you take my dental insurance?
We’re out of network, but many plans still pay part of the cost of cleanings and exams, usually with limits on how often. Our team will help you understand how to use your benefits, and you’re responsible for what the plan doesn’t pay. Call 904.398.1549 with your plan details. More on insurance and payment.
I haven’t been to a dentist in years. Where do I start?
Start with a new patient visit. It takes about two hours, and nobody is going to lecture you. We’ll find out where things stand, sort out what’s urgent from what can wait, and give you the fee for each step in writing. Many people need a regular cleaning first; some need a few visits. See new patients.
Your next step
Book a cleaning and exam in San Marco.
If it’s been a while, or you’ve been told you need a deep cleaning and want to understand why, come see us. You’ll see your own measurements, hear what they mean from Dr. Henley, and get the fee for each step in writing before anything starts.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Prefer a nonurgent text? 904.762.5616 is our practice on-call and text line. Please don’t send sensitive health information by text, and call for anything urgent.
Related pages
Sources
- Eke PI, Dye BA, Wei L, Thornton-Evans GO, Genco RJ. Prevalence of periodontitis in adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. J Dent Res. 2012;91(10):914-920.
- Preshaw PM, Alba AL, Herrera D, et al. Periodontitis and diabetes: a two-way relationship. Diabetologia. 2012;55(1):21-31.
- Smiley CJ, Tracy SL, Abt E, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing with or without adjuncts. J Am Dent Assoc. 2015;146(7):525-535.
- Fee PA, Riley P, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Boyers D, Beirne PV. Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;10(10):CD004346.
- Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV. Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;12(12):CD004625.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Selection of Patients for Dental Radiographic Examinations (ADA/FDA, revised 2012).
- Weyant RJ, Tracy SL, Anselmo TT, et al. Topical fluoride for caries prevention: executive summary of the updated clinical recommendations and supporting systematic review. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(11):1279-1291.