The staff provided excellent care, were nice to talk to and made a very comfortable visit. They were able to provide fillings to several chipped teeth with short notice while visiting Phoenix from out of country. Both myself and my dentist back home agreed the quality of the fillings were well done, and the colour was a great match. Highly recommend for the great staff and professional work done.
Find the Cleaning Schedule Right for Your Mouth
How often should you get your teeth cleaned in Tempe, AZ, when six months is the number everyone repeats? You’ll learn where the six-month habit comes from, what the research says about it, and which health changes can move your schedule up or down. Dr. Jeremy Chan, DDS, sets cleaning schedules at Tempe Dentistry under Arizona license 10020. He earned his DDS at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at University of the Pacific and practices in Tempe.
Many people worry they’ve waited too long and will get a lecture, or they’re paying for visits they don’t need. Both worries are common, and both deserve a clear answer. Going too long lets tartar harden below the gumline, where your toothbrush can’t reach it, and it keeps building between visits. Small gum problems can then grow into treatment with more visits and a bigger bill.
How Often Do Most Adults Need a Teeth Cleaning?
Most adults with healthy gums do well with a professional cleaning every six months, which works out to two visits a year. At Tempe Dentistry, hygiene runs every six months or based on risk. Many dental plans pay for two routine cleanings a year, though coverage terms vary from one plan to the next.
Six months became the default partly because it matches how many dental plans pay for cleanings. It also gives your hygienist a regular look at your gums. Regular visits can catch small changes, like a new spot of bleeding or a deeper pocket, before they grow. Our guide to teeth cleaning in Tempe walks through what happens at each visit, from the gum check to the polish.
Is a Six-Month Cleaning Schedule Backed by Research?
The six-month schedule is a long-standing habit in dentistry, but research hasn’t shown it works better for every adult. A 2020 Cochrane review compared six-month, 24-month, and risk-based schedules over four years. It found the longer and risk-based schedules likely made little to no difference to cavities or gum disease for the adults studied.
Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients, published 14 October 2020.
This finding doesn’t mean you should stretch out your visits without talking to your dentist first. Many adults in those studies already saw a dentist regularly. Your mouth may differ if you have bleeding gums, frequent cavities, or a health condition affecting your gums.
Many dental offices skip this research, since it can point some patients toward fewer visits. Dr. Chan sets each schedule from what he finds at your exam and explains the reason in plain terms. If your gums look healthy and stable, he’ll tell you so. If they need a closer schedule after gum treatment, he’ll explain the change and the cost before it happens.
Which Cleaning Schedule Fits Your Mouth?
Most cleaning schedules fall into one of three patterns. Gum health and your history of cavities matter most, and your dentist sets the final number only after a full exam. The table below shows who each pattern usually fits and what the visit is called.
| Schedule | Who it usually fits | What the visit is |
| Every 3 to 4 months | People treated for gum disease | Periodontal maintenance |
| Every 6 months | Most adults with healthy gums | Routine cleaning (prophylaxis) and exam |
| Once a year or longer | Some low-risk adults, after a dentist agrees | Routine cleaning and exam |
Source: Tempe Dentistry hygiene approach and teeth cleaning page, November 2026. Longer intervals per the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, October 2020.
Most adults with healthy gums start in the six-month row and can stay there for many years. A three- or four-month schedule usually follows gum disease treatment, and some patients move back once their gums stay stable. Our periodontal therapy page explains this care if your hygienist has mentioned pocket depths.
What Changes How Often You Need a Cleaning?
A few health and life changes can move you from two cleanings a year to three or four. Each one speeds up plaque buildup or makes your gums react more strongly. None of them guarantees extra visits, but each one is worth mentioning to your hygienist at your next cleaning.
- Diabetes, which can make gum disease more common
- A new medicine causing dry mouth, such as some antihistamines or antidepressants
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Clear aligners or a fixed retainer, which give plaque more places to collect
- A recent run of new cavities
- A weakened immune system, an illness, or long stretches of stress
If one of these fits you, a closer schedule may help for a season and then return to six months. The hygienist checks your gums at each visit to see whether extra cleanings still help. Your schedule follows your mouth instead of staying fixed for life.
Why Do Arizona Adults Go Longer Between Dental Visits?
Only 63.1 percent of Arizona adults saw a dentist in the past year, compared with 67.5 percent nationwide. Arizona ranks 43rd among the states in 2024 federal survey data. Cost, fear, and trouble finding a convenient time are the top reasons adults give for skipping, according to the ADA.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024, via America’s Health Rankings, accessed 3 November 2026.
Tempe Dentistry opens at 7:00 AM Monday through Thursday, so patients from Tempe Gardens and Downtown Tempe can come in before work. The office sits on Rural Road near the Tempe History Museum. Every visit is judgment-free, the team sends recall reminders, and you’ll get an upfront estimate before any treatment.
What Should You Ask About Your Cleaning Schedule?
Five quick questions at your next cleaning can show whether your schedule still fits your mouth. Most hygienists can answer them while you’re still in the chair, with your gum readings right in front of them. Write the answers down so you can compare them next time.
- Are my gums healthy enough for a six-month schedule?
- Did my gum pocket readings change since last time?
- Is my next visit a routine cleaning or periodontal maintenance?
- Does my plan cover the schedule you suggest, and what will I owe?
- What at home would help me stay on a longer schedule?
The last question matters most, since better brushing and flossing at home can keep your gums stable between visits. Our preventive dentistry page covers the home care and checkups working alongside your cleanings. Ask these questions again whenever your health, your medicines, or your dental plan changes, since the answers may change too.
Get a Cleaning Schedule Built Around Your Gums
Dr. Chan was born and raised in Phoenix and did his residency at El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson. He and the hygiene team set each schedule from an exam, so your number reflects your gums. Patients come from across Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. Once your schedule fits, cleanings stop feeling like a chore, and your gums stay easier to care for.
Call 480-897-2274 and ask the team whether your current cleaning schedule still fits your gums and health. You can also book a cleaning online at tempe.dental in a few minutes. New patients without complex gum disease can start with the $125 exam, cleaning, and X-rays, for ages four and up.
Questions Tempe Patients Ask About Cleaning Frequency
What are the disadvantages of teeth cleaning?
The downsides are mild for most people and usually fade within a few days. Cleveland Clinic says dental cleanings are safe, though you might have sore gums or sensitive teeth afterward. Those effects can feel stronger after a long gap. Store-bought pain relievers can help, and lasting pain is worth a call, since results vary by patient.
Is it safe to get teeth cleaned while pregnant?
Yes, and staying on schedule while pregnant matters for your gums. The ADA’s patient site says health groups encourage you to see your dentist while you’re expecting. Hormone changes can cause swollen, tender gums, called pregnancy gingivitis. Your dentist may suggest extra cleanings during pregnancy, so mention it when you book and at each visit.
Why are dentists pushing deep cleanings?
Dentists recommend a deep cleaning when gum disease forms deep pockets. The NIH’s dental institute describes scaling and root planing as a deep cleaning of the affected teeth. A fair recommendation comes with pocket measurements, X-rays, and a clear explanation of which teeth need the deeper cleaning and why. If it doesn’t, ask for those details or a second opinion.
Is 4 dental cleanings a year too much?
Four cleanings a year isn’t too much when your gums need it, though most healthy adults don’t. Mayo Clinic advises seeing a dentist at least once a year for checkups and cleanings, with more visits if your dentist suggests them. If your gums are healthy and someone suggests four, ask what they’re seeing. Many plans pay for two routine cleanings a year, so a third or fourth visit may be billed to you.