Why Should I Get a Routine Teeth Cleaning?
A professional routine cleaning can help to eliminate plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth. It can also help remove stains caused by drinking or eating certain foods. This treatment should be part of your regular oral hygiene routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Regular professional teeth cleanings can greatly reduce the onset of periodontal disease.
How Often Should I Get a Routine Teeth Cleaning?
For most patients with overall good oral health, a twice a year routine cleaning is a quick and painless treatment. You may even look forward to the clean feeling and appearance of your teeth that you'll experience after each cleaning!
Certain factors may cause us to recommend more frequent routine cleanings, schedule a deep cleaning instead, or use anesthesia or sedation. Those factors include:
- Waiting a long period in between cleanings
- Dental sensitivity due to tooth decay, gum disease, or inflammation of the gums
- Jaw pain caused by temporomandibular disorders
What to Expect During a Routine Teeth Cleaning
At See Me Smile Dental, we want you to fully understand what you should expect during the teeth cleaning procedure to ease any anxiety you may have. Routine teeth cleanings are generally performed by a dental hygienist or another professional at the office. First, we will do an exam. Then, we will remove plaque and tartar, and finish with brushing, flossing, and polishing.
What Happens During a Dental Examination of My Teeth and Gums?
Before getting started, we will use a small mirror to look around. This concave mirror allows us to see inside the patient's mouth and look for any signs of potential issues like plaque and tartar build-up or red and inflamed gums. This prepares the dentist for what they should focus on the most during the cleaning process. If serious issues are found during the exam such as signs of gum disease or cavities, you may require a more thorough exam.
What Happens During Removal of Plaque and Tartar?
During the next step, we will use a tool with a hook on it known as a scaler. The scaler is used to remove tartar and plaque from the surface of each tooth, as well as near the gum line and in between teeth. A manual or electric scaler may also be used, depending on how severe the buildup is. The manual scaler scrapes the surface of the teeth while the ultrasonic or electric version uses vibration to gently remove tartar and plaque deposits.