General Dentistry · Led by Dr. Thao Tran & Dr. Nhung Duong · Last reviewed May 2026
Dental Checkup & Cleaning That Actually
Catches Problems Early.
Picasso Dental offers a general examination, scaling and polishing for mild tartar, and for heavy tartar, with a free children's examination at every visit. Six-monthly recall, digital X-ray on site, ultrasonic plus manual scaling, and a written treatment plan if anything needs follow-up. Routine care is led by Dr. Thao Tran and Dr. Nhung Duong, our senior general dentists, with clinical standards set group-wide by Dr. Emily Nguyen across our six branches.
What is a Dental Checkup?
A dental checkup is a structured clinical examination of your teeth, gums and soft tissues, paired with a professional cleaning that removes plaque and tartar a toothbrush cannot reach. The purpose is preventive: to catch cavities, gum inflammation, broken fillings, grinding wear and oral cancer signs early, when they are cheap and quick to treat instead of expensive and uncomfortable later.
Why Picasso for Routine Care
Senior General Dentists Only
Routine examinations and cleanings at Picasso are performed by senior general dentists Dr. Thao Tran and Dr. Nhung Duong, not delegated entirely to hygienists. You see a fully qualified dentist every visit, who can diagnose and quote treatment on the spot.
Transparent Pricing
One published price for the general examination, with no upsell fees, no consultation surcharge, and no hidden membership tier. Children's examinations are free. Every restorative quote that comes out of your checkup is given to you in writing.
Hospital-Grade Sterilisation
Autoclaves on every floor, single-use disposables for everything that can be single-use, and full barrier protocols. The same standards we use for surgical implant placement apply to a routine cleaning.
Digital X-Ray On Site
Digital bitewing, periapical and panoramic X-rays at every branch, with around 90 percent less radiation than traditional film. We only take X-rays when clinically indicated, never as a routine for every visit.
Ultrasonic Plus Manual Scaling
Ultrasonic scalers for efficient tartar removal above and just below the gum line, followed by hand instruments for the detail work along contact areas and gum margins. Polish with prophy paste leaves a smooth surface that resists new plaque.
Recall Reminders
We book your next six-month recall before you leave, and send a reminder by email, SMS or Zalo as the date approaches. International patients on multi-year travel plans can sync recalls with their next Vietnam trip.
Checkup and Cleaning Pricing
Published, transparent pricing across all six Picasso branches. Children's examinations are free. Tartar grading is decided clinically at the visit so you only pay for the level of cleaning your mouth actually needs.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| General examination & consultation | |
| Children's examination | Free |
| Scaling & polishing (mild tartar) | |
| Scaling & polishing (moderate tartar) | |
| Scaling & polishing (heavy tartar) | 500,000–600,000 |
| Scaling under local anaesthetic | |
| Polishing only | |
| Children's scaling & polishing | |
| Fluoride application (under 7 teeth) | |
| Fluoride application (7 teeth or more) | |
| Panoramic X-ray (OPG) | |
| CBCT 3D scan |
Active gum disease found at your checkup? See gum disease treatment for deep cleaning and scaling and root planing pricing.
What Happens at Your Checkup
From arrival to recall booking. Most healthy adults are in the chair for 45 minutes. New patients or anyone overdue for cleaning may need a 60-minute slot.
Arrival + Medical History
Check medical history, medications, allergies, and any current pain or sensitivity. New patients complete a short oral hygiene questionnaire.
5 minClinical Examination
Tooth-by-tooth check for cavities, broken fillings, wear and cracks. Periodontal probing for gum pocket depths. Soft-tissue and oral cancer screen.
10 minX-Rays If Needed
Digital bitewing or panoramic X-rays only when clinically indicated, never routine. Used to check between teeth, around fillings, or below the gum line.
5 minScaling + Polishing
Ultrasonic scaler removes tartar above and just below the gum line. Hand instruments finish the detail work. Polish with prophy paste smooths the surface.
15–25 minFluoride + Plan
Fluoride varnish or sealants if indicated. Findings explained, written treatment plan if anything needs follow-up, next recall booked before you leave.
5–10 minHow Often Should You Come?
The honest version, not a one-size-fits-all rule. Recall frequency depends on your gum health, history, age and what is in your mouth.
Every 6 Months: Standard Adult
Healthy gums, no active disease, low cavity risk. Six-monthly cleaning is enough to control tartar before it triggers inflammation, and gives the dentist a chance to catch new issues early.
Every 4 Months: Active Gum Disease
Patients in active treatment for periodontitis, with a history of gum surgery, or with persistent inflammation need more frequent maintenance to keep deep pockets under control.
Every 4 Months: Implant Patients
Dental implants need professional cleaning around the abutment more frequently than natural teeth. Quarterly maintenance protects against peri-implantitis, the most common cause of late implant failure.
From Age 1: Children
First visit by age one or within six months of the first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. Examinations are free. Early visits build comfort with the chair and catch enamel or feeding-bottle decay early.
Pregnant Women: 2nd Trimester
Routine cleaning is safe at any stage of pregnancy and most comfortable in the second trimester. Hormonal changes raise the risk of pregnancy gingivitis, so consistent six-monthly care actively protects gum and birth outcomes.
Quarterly: Post-Orthodontic
For the first year after braces or Invisalign, quarterly cleaning helps clear plaque from areas the brackets or attachments made hard to reach, and keeps the new tooth position stable while gums settle.
What Your Dentist Looks For
A checkup is not just a cleaning. It is a structured screen for the issues that, caught early, are quick and cheap to fix and, caught late, become expensive and uncomfortable.
Cavities
Visual and tactile check of every tooth surface, plus bitewing X-rays for the contact areas between teeth where decay hides. Early cavities are filled in 20 minutes; late cavities need root canal and crown.
Gum Pocket Depths
Periodontal probing measures the gap between gum and tooth at six points around every tooth. Pockets above 4mm signal early gum disease. We grade and chart each pocket so progress is tracked over time.
Grinding and Wear
Flat wear facets on the canines and molars, chips on incisor edges, and tongue-scalloping all signal nighttime grinding. Caught early, a nightguard prevents thousands of dollars of veneer or crown replacement later.
Broken or Failing Fillings
Old amalgam and composite fillings eventually leak. We check margins, contact points and any sensitivity around each restoration so leaking fillings are replaced before decay reaches the nerve.
Oral Cancer Screening
Visual and palpation screen of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, palate, throat and lymph nodes for any lesion, lump or ulcer. Five minutes that occasionally save a life.
Bite and Soft Tissue
Bite check for high spots, jaw clicking and TMJ tenderness. Soft-tissue assessment for cheek-biting, tongue habits and gum recession. Findings get noted in your chart for the next visit.
The General Dentistry Team
Routine examinations and cleanings at Picasso are led by Dr. Thao Tran and Dr. Nhung Duong, our senior general dentists, supported by Dr. Emily Nguyen, who sets clinical standards group-wide.
General Dentist
Dr. Thao Tran
Senior general dentist at Picasso. Leads routine examinations, scaling and polishing, fillings and preventive care for adult patients across the group.
General Dentist
Dr. Nhung Duong
Senior general dentist at Picasso. Routine and preventive care for adults and children, with a particular focus on gentle first visits for nervous patients and young families.
Founding Clinical Director
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founder of the original clinic in 2013. Sets clinical standards for examination protocols, sterilisation and preventive care group-wide.
Common Questions
How often should I have a dental checkup and cleaning?
Every six months is the standard recommendation for healthy adults. Patients with active gum disease, dental implants or fixed orthodontic appliances usually need every three to four months. Children should have their first visit by age one, then every six months.
Does scaling and polishing hurt?
For most patients with mild or moderate tartar, no. The ultrasonic scaler vibrates and sprays water, and the sensation is more like tickling than pain. Heavy tartar or inflamed gums can cause some discomfort, in which case we offer topical anaesthetic gel, or a full local anaesthetic option for.
Why does scaling need to happen so often?
Plaque hardens into tartar within 72 hours. Tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush, only with professional instruments. Even with excellent home care, every adult develops some tartar at the gum line and behind the lower front teeth between visits. Six-monthly removal prevents tartar from triggering gum inflammation, gum recession and bone loss.
Can I just brush more instead of getting a cleaning?
No. Brushing and flossing remove soft plaque, which is essential, but they do not remove hardened tartar. Once tartar forms, only an ultrasonic scaler or hand instrument can remove it. Skipping professional cleanings is the most common cause of avoidable gum disease in otherwise diligent brushers.
Does insurance cover routine checkups in Vietnam?
Vietnamese state health insurance does not generally cover private clinic checkups or scaling. Some international and expatriate health insurance plans (Bupa, Cigna, AIA, Allianz Care, BaoViet, Liberty) reimburse part or all of routine preventive care. We provide itemised receipts and codes you can submit to your insurer.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Yes. Modern digital dental X-rays use roughly 90 percent less radiation than older film X-rays. A single bitewing delivers about the same dose as one to two days of natural background radiation. We only take X-rays when clinically indicated, never as a routine for every visit.
When should children start coming for checkups?
By age one, or within six months of the first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. Children's examinations are free at Picasso Dental, and children's scaling and polishing is. Early visits build comfort with the chair and let us catch enamel issues, bite problems or feeding-bottle decay before they become big problems.
Can pregnant women get a dental cleaning?
Yes, and they should. Routine cleaning is safe at any stage of pregnancy and is most comfortably scheduled in the second trimester. Hormonal changes increase the risk of pregnancy gingivitis, so consistent six-monthly cleaning during pregnancy actively protects both gum health and birth outcomes.
What if I have not been to a dentist in years?
You are not alone, and we are not here to lecture. Long-overdue patients usually need heavy scaling () and sometimes scaling under local anaesthetic, plus an honest treatment plan for any cavities, broken fillings or gum issues found. We sequence the work in order of urgency and quote everything in writing first.
What is the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning?
A regular cleaning (scaling and polishing) removes tartar above and just below the gum line in healthy or mildly inflamed mouths. A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is treatment for active gum disease, working below the gum line on root surfaces, often quadrant by quadrant under local anaesthetic. See our gum disease treatment page for the full picture.
Start Here
Book Your Checkup
Catch Problems Early.
general examination, free for children. Six-monthly recall, digital X-ray on site, written treatment plan if anything needs follow-up. We will book your next visit before you leave the chair.