Dental Cleanings
What are Dental Cleanings?
Dental cleanings are performed in-office by a licensed dental hygienist. Cleanings are a crucial part of your preventative care, and can help prevent issues like decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. The procedure is performed on all patients coming into the office, in conjunction with a thorough dental examination. Every member of your family should have regular bi-annual dental cleanings done to keep their teeth healthy and bright. Professional cleanings remove hardened plaque, tartar, and staining that is otherwise impossible to remove on your own. Along with a cleaning, the hygienist will measure your gum pockets during the appointment to check for signs of gingivitis and gum disease.
Why would you need Dental Cleanings?
Dental cleanings help to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Over time, hardened plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. Some people are more prone to developing calculus than others, despite rigorous brushing day and night. Even with optimal dental hygiene practiced at home, you still need a professional cleaning once every six months. If you fail to have bi-annual cleanings, the hardened plaque and tartar will continue to accumulate, and can cause problems with decay, gum inflammation, and bad breath. Dental cleanings take less than an hour, and can completely transform your oral health. Children need to have regular cleanings as well, and it is recommended to start bringing your child to see the dentist once their first teeth begin to come up through their gums.
What makes you a good candidate for Dental Cleanings?
Everyone is a good candidate for dental cleanings. It’s recommended that you have a dental cleaning performed by a hygienist once every six months. This helps to keep up with plaque and tartar removal, as well as provide you with regular gum checks. Gingivitis is the first sign of gum disease, and at this stage, it is completely reversible. If you have routine cleanings, you will be told if you have gingivitis so that you can begin treatment before it can progress. If you have gum disease or heavy buildup on your teeth, you may be told that you need a deeper cleaning known as a scaling and root planing. Each member of your family should visit the dentist twice a year for a routine cleaning and examination.
What can you expect during a routine Dental Cleaning?
When you arrive at the office, you’ll be greeted by the hygienist who will take x-rays to help in diagnosing any underlying conditions or problems. The hygienist starts by measuring your gum pockets to check for signs of gingivitis, as well as periodontal disease. If we find signs of gum disease, other treatments are necessary and can be done at the time of your appointment. A regular cleaning often involves a series of tools, known as scalers, that are used to scrape debris off of the teeth. The hygienist may also use a powered scaler that shoots water into the areas the calculus is being removed from to flush the debris away. Some people experience sensitivity and feel slight pressure on the teeth when having a cleaning done. Once the cleaning is finished, your teeth will be polished and flossed. After this is done, a dental exam will be performed checking for signs of decay and other dental issues that may exist.
We look forward to seeing you
If you need a dental cleaning, or want to inquire more about this procedure, call our office, and we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.