Dental Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings are important to maintaining good oral hygiene. Professional cleaning by a hygienist can remove mineralized plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. It is recommended you go in for a cleaning once every six months.
How it's done
You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes and an hour. A trained hygienist will do the cleaning, and a dentist may come in for an exam at the end. Most people find that dental cleanings are painless, and do not cause any discomfort.
There are two important steps to a dental cleaning. The first step is scaling the teeth, whereby the hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces. This can be performed by hand or with electric instruments depending on the hygienist's preference.
How it's done
You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes and an hour. A trained hygienist will do the cleaning, and a dentist may come in for an exam at the end. Most people find that dental cleanings are painless, and do not cause any discomfort.
There are two important steps to a dental cleaning. The first step is scaling the teeth, whereby the hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces. This can be performed by hand or with electric instruments depending on the hygienist's preference.
The second step is polishing to remove any final plaque and buff the teeth. Polishers generally make the teeth shine.
Individualized area cleaning
Small areas of the mouth are cleaned more carefully to help stop the progression of gum disease. This procedure is done for adult patients who have gum disease due to not having regular dental care in the past several years. It normally takes two to four visits with the dental hygientist. If the patient is scheduled for this procedure it is critical that they keep all appointments.
