The Importance of Routine Dental Cleanings
While dental emergencies can strike anyone, anytime, our patients who commit to regular preventive care appointments usually experience fewer problems over time. Professional cleanings with a registered dental hygienist allow us to take a proactive approach to your dental health and address issues while they are small. Despite your best efforts, deposits of mineralized plaque, known as tartar, adhere to areas of the teeth. These deposits create a nice home for millions of harmful bacteria. Left unchecked, they flood toxins into the gums resulting in devastating chronic problems and can even result in the loss of teeth.
When tartar is removed at your professional hygiene appointment, it doesn’t have the opportunity to produce irreversible damage. We use professional instruments and prescription strength polishing paste that gently buffs away stain and plaque, leaving your teeth ultra-smooth and shiny. Since discoloration settles into the enamel of your teeth over time, this helps slow yellowing while creating a glassy surface for better cleaning.
Procedure Overview
The specific steps and details of your teeth cleaning appointment may vary based on your individual needs, but it typically follows this general process:
- During your teeth cleaning appointment, the hygienist or dentist will begin by gently removing plaque and tartar from your teeth using a tool called a scaler—or what some refer to as a "dental pick." Unlike a toothbrush, a scaler can effectively remove tartar, which is hardened plaque that forms when buildup is left on the teeth too long. In cases where there’s a significant amount of tartar, we may use an ultrasonic scaler. This tool uses gentle ultrasonic vibrations to break apart tough deposits, allowing for quicker and more comfortable removal with less scraping.
- Next, we’ll polish your teeth using a special tool with a soft rubber cup and a mildly abrasive polishing paste. This paste is similar to regular toothpaste but slightly thicker, helping to remove surface stains and smooth the enamel for a bright, clean finish.
- Throughout the process, we’ll rinse your mouth periodically using a small jet of water, while suctioning away the excess water and saliva to keep your mouth clear. If we need a closer look at specific areas, we may use short bursts of air to dry the tooth surface, making buildup or irregularities easier to see.
- To wrap up the cleaning, we’ll floss between your teeth to remove any remaining polishing paste and ensure every surface is clean. Once your teeth are thoroughly cleaned, we typically move on to a full examination—checking your teeth, gums, tongue, and the rest of your mouth for any signs of concern.