The dentist will use a slightly abrasive toothpaste on an electric toothbrush that will brush your teeth thoroughly. This will consist of hard brushing to eliminate germs left on your teeth. Your dentist will also give you professional dental floss to completely clean your teeth. Most dental cleanings are performed by a dental hygienist.
Before the cleaning process begins, they begin with a physical exam of the entire mouth. The word prophylaxis means “preventing diseases”. Therefore, prophylactic dental cleanings are used to clean healthy teeth in order to prevent them from being affected by tooth decay or gum disease. Prophylactic cleanings remove plaque and tartar from the front, back, and side of teeth with a dental scraper or water jet.
Most dental patients only require prophylactic cleaning, especially if they have maintained daily dental hygiene and biannual dental appointments. Deep cleaning is different from normal dental cleaning. This type of procedure goes below the gum line. It does this to clean hard-to-reach spots, such as roots and pockets at the base of the tooth.
A substance known as tartar can build up around the outside and on the roots of your teeth. If left unchecked, this tartar can cause serious bacterial infections. At this point, your dental hygienist will pour some water in your mouth and ask you to rinse. Once you're ready, we use suction to remove water from your mouth.
Rinse step helps remove any remaining tooth enamel. During recommended dental visits twice a year, your dentist will check your teeth and gums for any problems that need treatment. Your checkup will include cleaning your teeth by your dentist or dental hygienist. What should this dental cleaning entail? Do you need to do it? If your hygienist discovers any areas of concern, they will work with your dentist to formulate a treatment plan.
Usually, a dental hygienist will clean your teeth before the dentist performs the rest of the checkup. Dental cleanings are important because they allow us to detect oral health problems before they can worsen. Scaling and root planing cleanings, also known as deep cleanings, are used on both teeth and gum pockets to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. After this preliminary planning stage, the dentist will measure the depths of the gum cavities with a special tool.
The dental hygienist uses a small mirror to check around the teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis (swollen gums) or other possible problems. Dental exams will allow your general dentist to assess the health of your teeth and gums, while professional dental cleanings will remove excess plaque and tartar. Plaque buildup is a major cause of tooth decay and gingivitis, so it's important to schedule an appointment with your dentist's office to remove plaque from your teeth. If you have tooth decay or other oral problems, your dentist and hygienist will plan additional treatment and schedule follow-up to do it.
As you can see, there are different types of dental cleanings that your dentist may choose to use depending on what you find during your dental exam. Whether you need additional steps or not, the key is to go back to the dentist to clean your teeth regularly to avoid problems altogether. The hygienist may suggest a quick x-ray to take an in-depth look at the teeth and allow the dentist to identify underlying problems, such as bone loss, oral abnormalities, cavities, tumors and cysts, gum disease, and tooth movement. .
