A checkup every six months is the least expensive dentistry there is: a thorough cleaning, an exam by Dr. Kim, digital X-rays only when they are due, and a clear explanation of anything we find. Children and adults are welcome, and most insurance plans, including Denti-Cal, cover two checkups a year. We speak English, Spanish and Korean.
What a checkup includes
A regular visit has two parts. The cleaning removes the hardened plaque (tartar) that brushing cannot, above and just below the gum line, and finishes with polishing. The exam is Dr. Kim's check of every tooth, your gums, your bite and the soft tissues of the mouth, including an oral cancer screening.
Digital X-rays are taken only when they are due, usually once a year for check-up X-rays, and use a fraction of the radiation of film. If something needs a closer look, our in-office 3D CBCT scanner can show it without sending you to another facility.
What to expect
Here is what a routine visit looks like at our office.
1. Check-in and health history
We confirm your insurance, update your health history and ask what you want from the visit. New patients can finish most of this in the online booking.
2. Exam and digital X-rays
Dr. Kim examines your teeth and gums, measures the gum pockets, screens for oral cancer and reviews X-rays with you on the screen.
3. Cleaning and polish
Tartar is removed above and below the gum line, teeth are polished, and you get tips that fit your mouth, not a generic lecture.
If we find a cavity or early gum disease, you leave with a written plan and estimate; nothing is started that day unless you want it to be. If your gums need more than a routine cleaning, we explain why and what a deep cleaning involves.
Cost and insurance
Most PPO plans cover two cleanings and exams a year at little or no cost to you, and Denti-Cal (Medi-Cal Dental) covers exams, X-rays and cleanings for children and adults within its frequency limits. Without insurance, ask for the current fee when you book; we tell you before the visit, not after.
Monthly payment plans are available through CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit, subject to credit approval. We give you a written estimate before any treatment.
Dr. Kim's approach
Dr. Kim's rule is to treat what needs treating and watch what does not. Small early spots are often monitored and remineralized rather than drilled, and you see the X-ray or photo of anything we recommend treating.
Nervous patients and children get extra time. Tell us, and we go at your pace.
Why Happy Light Dental for cleanings and checkups
X-rays on site
Low-dose digital X-rays and a 3D CBCT scanner in the office.
Gentle cleanings
Sensitive teeth and anxious patients are the norm here, not the exception.
Insurance checked first
Denti-Cal and most PPO plans; we verify benefits before your visit.
Your language
We speak English, Spanish and Korean.
Cleaning and checkup questions
Ready to talk about cleanings and checkups?
Call (310) 644-4648 or book online. Se habla español · 한국어 진료 가능.