A professional tooth cleaning is done by a dentist for removing plaque and calculus that built on the teeth with time. People who properly brush and floss their teeth on regular basis generally do not suffer from any discomfort during the cleaning process. But those who do not practice healthy teeth cleaning habits may experience some sensitivity or discomfort during the professional dental cleaning. In the teeth cleaning procedure, the dentist uses various specialized instruments for removing the harmful deposits without causing any harm to the teeth. Some of the instruments which are used in the dental cleaning include ultrasonic instrument, fine hand tools, polishing, and fluoride.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
The American Dental Association recommends that every person must visit the dentist at least once in a year for professional dental cleaning. People with the history of the periodontal disease should make more dental visits so as to prevent the recurrence of disease or infection. Anyone who suffers from various chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease should also clean their teeth more frequently. People with regular smoking habit should consider quitting it as smoking marks permanent stains on the teeth.
During a general dental visit for teeth cleaning, a patient generally receives preventive and diagnostic services from the dentist.
Diagnostic services may include:
- Evaluation of gum tissue
- Checking biting, chewing and swallowing patterns
- Referral to specialists for specific treatment
- X-rays or examination of teeth to detect decay
- Oral cancer examination and screening
Preventive services may include:
- Fluoride application
- Removal of plaque and tartar
- Sealants (for children)
- Cleaning and adjustment of dentures and partial dentures
- Stain removal
- Polishing teeth, including fillings and crowns
Educational services may include:
- Tooth brushing and flossing instructions
- Tobacco cessation counseling
- Nutritional counseling
- Evaluation of self-care effectiveness
Deep teeth cleaning process
Deep teeth cleaning is also known as the root planning and scaling in the dental world. Scaling process includes the removal of tartar and plaque from the teeth surface and the pocket area between the gums and teeth. The dentists use either ultrasonic or electric instruments or manual scaling tools for performing scaling and root planning. Scaling instruments are generally used by the dentist for removing tartar and plaque from the roots of the teeth.
What to expect during the dental visit?
A thorough cleaning – In the thorough teeth cleaning procedure, the dentist scrape along and below the gum line for the purpose of removing built-in tartar and plaque which can cause cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and various other problems. After this, the polishing and flossing of the teeth are done.
A full dental examination – The full detailed examination of the teeth is done by the dentist for finding the signs of any disease or other problem.
X-Rays – X-Rays can easily diagnose the problems that remain unnoticed by the dentist like impacted teeth, jawbone, abscesses, tumors or cysts and decay between the teeth.