A checkup is the one dental appointment almost everyone needs on a schedule, and it only works if you actually keep it. That is easier when the office is close and the hours fit your week. Our office, at 6505 Sydenstricker Rd, Suite B, in Burke, lies about 3 miles from West Springfield High School and keeps Saturday morning hours as well as weekday ones. Springfield households can book the whole family here for cleanings and exams. This page explains what a visit includes, how often X-rays are actually needed, and how to make the most of your plan year. For the other services we offer Springfield patients, start with our family dentist for Springfield, VA page.
What a cleaning and exam visit includes
Two people look after you at a routine visit. A hygienist does the cleaning, and Dr. Pejman Ghorbani does the exam. In a typical appointment:
- Plaque and hardened tartar are removed from above and just below the gumline, and the teeth are polished.
- The gums are measured for pocket depth, which is how early gum disease is picked up before it hurts.
- Digital X-rays are taken when they are due, not automatically at every visit.
- Dr. Ghorbani checks each tooth, existing fillings and crowns, your bite and jaw, and screens the tongue, cheeks and throat for signs of oral cancer.
- An intraoral camera can show you, on screen, the same crack or worn filling the dentist is looking at.
Two extras are available at a hygiene visit. EpicX laser bacterial reduction targets bacteria in the pockets around the teeth, and airflow polishing lifts coffee and tea staining that ordinary polishing paste leaves behind. Fluoride varnish and sealants are offered where they help, most often for children and for adults who get cavities easily. The clinical detail on all of these is on our full guide to preventive dentistry and our dental cleaning page.
When a regular cleaning is not enough
If the exam finds tartar and infection well below the gums, with deeper pockets or bone loss on the X-rays, a routine cleaning will not fix it. That calls for scaling and root planing, which we cover on our gum disease treatment page for Springfield. You will be told which category you fall into, and why, before anything is scheduled.
How often you need X-rays
Patients sometimes ask whether they really need X-rays again. The answer depends on your cavity risk. Guidance published by the FDA with the American Dental Association recommends bitewing X-rays every 6 to 18 months for adults who have cavities or a higher risk of them, and every 24 to 36 months for adults with no cavities and no increased risk (FDA: Selection of Patients for Dental Radiographic Examinations). The guidance also stresses that the dentist's judgment for the individual patient comes first. Our digital X-rays appear on screen within seconds, and if you have recent images from a previous dentist, bring them or upload them through the patient portal so they are not repeated without reason.
Fitting checkups into a Springfield schedule
Our hours run Monday to Thursday from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, and Friday and Saturday from 8 to 2. A few patterns work well for Springfield patients:
- Early weekday slots suit commuters heading toward the Beltway or the Franconia–Springfield Metro, since the office is west of the traffic, not in the middle of it.
- Saturday mornings are the easiest way to bring children without missing school, so they fill quickly; book them well ahead.
- Several family members due at once? Mention it when you call, and ask whether back-to-back times are available.
From the Old Keene Mill Shopping Center the drive is about 5 minutes; from North Springfield, about 15 minutes outside rush hour. You will get a reminder two to five days before each visit through the channel you pick: text, email or a phone call.
Bringing a toddler for the first time? Our guide to a child's first dental visit for Springfield parents covers what to expect at that age, and if you wonder whether your family is getting enough fluoride from the tap, read whether Springfield tap water is fluoridated.
Using your dental benefits before they reset
Most dental plans pay for checkups and cleanings at a high level, and unused preventive visits usually do not carry over to the next year. Read the fine print on frequency: some plans allow two cleanings per calendar year, while others require a set gap between them, such as six months to the day. If your last cleaning was in late spring, an autumn visit may still fit before the year closes. FEDVIP dental plans run on the calendar year, so federal and retired military households in Springfield who have not had a checkup this year have until December 31 to use it. Our article on FEDVIP, TRICARE dental and uninsured options for Springfield families explains how those plans differ.
The office checks your benefits ahead of the visit when possible and files the claim for you. We do not list insurance networks on this page, so call to ask about your plan. Uninsured households can look at the Shield Prevention Plan, which bundles routine preventive care, and ask about the discounts for uninsured patients.
Your first checkup with us
New patients start with a full exam and X-rays, followed by a cleaning in the same appointment if your gums are in a condition where that makes sense. If something else needs to come first, we explain why. Bring a photo ID, your insurance details and a list of your medicines. You leave knowing what is healthy, what to watch, and what, if anything, needs treatment. Our guide on how to choose a dentist in Springfield lists good questions to ask at any first visit.
Due for a cleaning? Request a checkup online or call (703) 250-5072. Shield Dental Care is in Burke, close to West Springfield, and sees patients on Saturday mornings too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a cleaning and checkup take?+
For an existing patient, plan on somewhere between half an hour and an hour; heavier buildup or X-rays push it toward the longer end. A first visit takes longer because it includes a full set of X-rays, a complete exam and a discussion of the findings, so allow extra time when you book.
Can I book my children and myself on the same trip?+
Ask when you call. The office can tell you whether back-to-back times are open; it depends on the day's schedule. Saturday hours are short (8 AM to 2 PM), so booking ahead helps.
My gums bleed a little when I floss. Should I wait until my next checkup?+
Mention it when you book rather than waiting months. Occasional bleeding is often early gingivitis, which usually reverses with a professional cleaning and better daily flossing, but persistent bleeding should be checked sooner.
It has been several years since my last cleaning. Will it be one appointment?+
Possibly not. After a long gap there is often more tartar, and if the gums show deeper pockets, the cleaning may be done in stages or as a deeper treatment. The first visit tells us which, and nobody will lecture you about the gap.
Do you take X-rays at every checkup?+
No. X-rays are taken when your history and risk call for them, following the FDA and ADA intervals. Patients with a low risk of cavities may need bitewings only every two to three years.