Dental Cleaning in Ooltewah, TN

If you live in Ooltewah, you have probably driven past our office on Apison Pike a hundred times. Peterson Family Dentistry has been on this stretch of Apison for years, and we are still the only dental practice in Ooltewah where the dentist who owns the place is also the dentist doing your exam. Same chair, same Dr. Peterson, every visit.

A regular dental cleaning every six months is the smallest thing you can do for your teeth that has the biggest payoff. We make it as quick as we can without rushing. Most cleanings are in and out in an hour, and we run on time.

Dental Cleaning at Our Apison Pike Office

Our Ooltewah office sits at 9325 Apison Pike, Suite 119, between Cambridge Square and the Mountain View neighborhoods. Free parking right out front. The office is fully equipped with digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and a CEREC same-day crown machine — though for a routine cleaning all you really need to know is that the chairs are comfortable, the team is friendly, and we will not waste your time.

What to Expect at Your Cleaning Appointment

Step 1: New patient paperwork (5–10 minutes)

If it is your first visit, plan to arrive 10 minutes early or fill out forms online ahead of time. Bring your insurance card if you have one. We will verify benefits before your cleaning starts so there are no surprise bills.

Step 2: Hygienist exam, X-rays, and scaling

A hygienist takes you back, looks at your gums, takes a small set of digital X-rays if you are due, and then begins scaling — removing the plaque and tartar that brushing cannot reach, both above and below the gumline. We use ultrasonic instruments and hand scalers depending on what your mouth needs.

Step 3: Polish and fluoride

Once your teeth are clean, the hygienist polishes them to remove surface stains, then offers a fluoride treatment if you would benefit from one. Fluoride is optional. We will tell you whether it is worth doing for you instead of charging everyone for it by default.

Step 4: Doctor exam with Dr. Peterson

Dr. David Peterson does the exam himself at the end of every visit. He looks for new decay, checks the soft tissue for anything concerning, and tells you what he sees in plain English. If there is something to address, he tells you what it is, what it costs, and what happens if you wait. No upselling.

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Why Ooltewah Families Choose Peterson Family Dentistry

A Loma Linda-trained DDS with 21 years in private practice

Dr. Peterson holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in California. He has been in private practice for 21 years, has treated approximately 25,000 patients, and commits to 25 hours of continuing education each year. He completed over 800 hours of CE beyond dental school. In 2025 BusinessRate named him a Top Dentist in Chattanooga.

In-network with most major PPO insurance plans

We are in-network with the PPOs most Hamilton County employers offer. Bring your insurance card to your first visit and the front-office team will verify your benefits before any work starts. We file the claim for you.

$125 and $199 new patient specials for the uninsured

If you do not have insurance, two flat-rate packages keep things predictable. The $125 New Patient Exam includes a comprehensive exam with Dr. Peterson and full digital X-rays. The $199 package adds a healthy-mouth cleaning if no periodontal disease is present. New patients only, cannot be combined with insurance. CareCredit is available if you would prefer to spread payments out.

Same-Day Cleaning Availability and Office Hours

Office hours at our Ooltewah location are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. We hold open slots most days for emergency exams and last-minute cleaning requests. Friday mornings are usually the easiest day to fit you in if you need to be seen this week. Call 423-396-4222 in the morning and we will tell you what we can offer for the same day.

Driving to Our Apison Pike Office from Around Ooltewah

Apison Pike is the main east-west road through Ooltewah, so most of our patients reach us in under ten minutes:

From Cambridge Square or the Snow Hill area, just stay on Apison Pike east — we are on the right between the Whirlbird intersection and the Collegedale border.

From the Mountain View neighborhoods or Standifer Gap Rd, take Standifer Gap to Apison Pike and turn west. About five minutes.

From I-75 (heading north or south), exit at Ooltewah-Ringgold Rd, head east, and turn left on Apison Pike. About seven minutes from the freeway.

From the Apison community, take Apison Pike west — we are about ten minutes in once you cross into Ooltewah.

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Our Ooltewah Dental Services Include:

FAQ by Ooltewah Patients

How long is a dental cleaning at your Ooltewah office?

A: Plan on 45 to 60 minutes for a routine cleaning. Deep cleanings for gum disease (scaling and root planing) take longer and are usually split into two visits, one side of the mouth at a time. We will tell you what kind of cleaning you need at the initial exam, not after we have started.

Do you accept walk-ins for cleanings at your Apison Pike location?

A: Cleanings need a hygienist available, which means walk-ins depend on the day. Friday mornings tend to be the easiest day to fit a new patient in. A quick phone call to 423-396-4222 first thing in the morning will save you a wasted drive.

Is parking easy at the Apison Pike office?

A: Yes. We have free on-site parking right outside suite 119. The lot is shared with a few neighboring offices but there are almost always open spaces. Ground-level entrance, no stairs.

Do I need X-rays at every cleaning?

A: No. Routine bitewing X-rays are typically taken once a year for adults at low cavity risk, every six months for higher-risk patients. Panoramic X-rays only when there is a specific reason (impacted wisdom teeth, full-mouth assessment). We do not take X-rays you do not need.

Can I book my whole family in on the same day?

A: When the schedule allows, yes. Call ahead and ask for a family block. Tuesday through Thursday afternoons are usually the easiest to coordinate. We see kids from age one onward, so a family appointment can include everyone.

Will my cleaning hurt if I have not been to a dentist in years?

A: It might be slightly uncomfortable depending on how much tartar has built up and whether your gums are inflamed. We can apply topical numbing if needed, and we can split the cleaning over two visits to keep things gentle. The longer between cleanings, the more we will recommend the second approach.

Are you the same office that used to be Collegedale Family Dentistry?

A: Yes. We are the same office, same team, in the same Apison Pike location. The practice rebranded to Peterson Family Dentistry. Long-time Collegedale Family Dentistry patients keep their records, their hygienist, and their schedule.

Schedule Your Cleaning at Our Ooltewah-Collegedale Office

Call 423-396-4222 to book a cleaning at our Apison Pike office, or use the online booking form. If you are a new patient without insurance, mention the $125 or $199 package when you call. We see kids, adults, and seniors. Same office, same team, every visit.