Preventive Cleaning

Your oral health depends on two factors: your willingness to brush and floss regularly and your commitment to seeing your dentist every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.  Even if you are able to brush your own teeth and remove much of the plaque, cleaning at dentist's office is necessary to keep your smile healthy.  The process of dental cleaning is painless in most cases, although some patients with receding or sensitive gums may feel a slight amount of discomfort.  If at any time you feel uncomfortable, let your hygienist or dentist know!

A professional teeth cleaning is a procedure in which your dentist uses a variety of tools to help deep clean your gums and the surface of your teeth.  First, your dentist will use an ultrasonic cleaner and a water sprayer to loosen and remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums.  Your dentist will then scrape additional plaque and tartar off your teeth by using a metal tool called a hand scraper.  You could feel mild discomfort during this part of the procedure.  Your dentist may also sand and smooth the roots of your teeth in order to remove plaque and other bacteria.  Finally, the dentist brushes your teeth with a rotary toothbrush and a gritty type of toothpaste that polishes and cleans your teeth.  After doing this, your dentist may floss your teeth or give you a fluoride treatment to strengthen them.

We recommend that all patients obtain a complete cleaning of the teeth and gums at least twice a year - it will keep your teeth in good condition.  After a professional oral cleaning a preventative fluoride tooth varnish is recommended.  Fluoride strengthens the enamel, that's why it has a significant impact on the health of the teeth.

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