Dental Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings are essential to keeping your gums and teeth healthy. A dentist or dental hygienist will clean the surfaces of your teeth to get rid of bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup.
Dental Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings are essential to keeping your gums and teeth healthy. A dentist or dental hygienist will clean the surfaces of your teeth to get rid of bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup. During the same appointment, they might also apply fluoride treatments and dental sealants, among other preventive procedures. Speak with your dentist if you are afraid or anxious about your teeth. For your comfort and relaxation during your appointment, several providers provide sedation dentistry treatments.
How often should you get a dental cleaning?
The American Dental Association advises consumers to schedule dental cleanings at the regular intervals that have been prescribed by their dentist. This will be done every six months for many people. But depending on your particular demands for dental health, that might change.
Procedure Details
What happens during a dental cleaning?
Your teeth will always be scaled and polished during a dental cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist may also suggest further diagnostic and preventive procedures based on your needs.
Among the procedures frequently carried out during a dental cleaning are:
- Scaling: In this stage, the surfaces of your teeth will be cleaned of plaque and tartar by your dentist or hygienist using scalers, which are hand devices. They might also occasionally utilise an ultrasonic scaler, which vibrates and emits a water jet. During this phase, you may hear scraping sounds, but it shouldn't hurt.
- Polishing: Your teeth will be polished by your dentist or hygienist using a pumice stone or special paste in a soft rubber cup. Plaque accumulation is decreased and the biofilm on the surfaces of your teeth is removed without causing damage to the enamel.
- Preventive Measures: Your dentist or hygienist may suggest additional preventive services like fluoride treatments or dental sealants based on your particular needs for oral health. Dental sealants can help shield deep grooves and fissures on your rear teeth (molars or premolars) from bacteria that can cause cavities. Fluoride treatments help lower your risk of cavities and improve your enamel. Sealants and fluoride treatments are beneficial for both adults and children. Find out from your dentist if you should get these preventive procedures.
- Dental X-Rays: Most individuals require fresh dental X-rays every three to six months. On the other hand, more frequent X-rays can be necessary if you have a condition that needs to be closely watched. For the detection and treatment of oral disorders, routine X-rays are crucial.
Benefits of Dental Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings have several advantages, such as:
- Decreased chance of developing severe oral health problems including gum disease and cavities.
- Enhanced overall health. Healthcare professionals have long understood the connection between overall body health and dental health. Frequent dental cleanings can lower your risk of dementia, heart disease, and stroke.
- Prevention of bad breath. Bad breath can be caused by tartar and hardened plaque. Frequent cleanings help prevent halitosis by clearing your teeth's surfaces of dangerous bacteria, which are microorganisms that cause illness.
- Lower expenses. Dental cleanings and other preventive dental care aim to stop problems before they develop. In the long run, this can save you a great deal of stress, money, and time.