Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a crucial part of maintaining oral health. Daily habits like brushing and flossing can help you stay on top of dental hygiene, but cleanings help further address excess bacteria and other issues that can arise.
During dental cleanings, a dentist or dental hygienist removes the plaque, bacteria, and tartar that have built up on the surface of your teeth. In some cases, other necessary services are provided as well.
What to Expect at a Dental Cleaning
Dental cleanings can consist of five main treatments:
Scaling
Instruments known as scalers can help to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth and gum pockets that have formed due to gum disease. Sometimes, ultrasonic scalers that vibrate and spray streams of water are used.
Polishing
To polish teeth, dentists use a soft rubber cup or a kind of paste with pumice. This reduces plaque buildup and removes biofilm found on teeth.
Preventative services
Fluoride treatments and dental sealants are examples of treatments that can prevent future issues. Dental sealants can protect deep crevices found in back teeth from bacteria that can cause cavities, and fluoride treatments can also reduce the risk of cavities and strengthen the enamel.
X-rays
These help dentists diagnose and treat dental conditions. Every six to 36 months, people should get new X-rays in order to catch any potential conditions and ensure nothing new has developed.
Recommendations
In some cases, a dentist might come across something that concerns them during a routine cleaning. Issues such as cavities and gum disease can be identified, and dentists can help provide options for treatment.
Different Kinds of Dental Cleanings
Dental cleanings can vary depending on individual needs and the amount of plaque and tartar buildup. There are four different types of dental cleanings.
Prophylaxis dental cleaning
The purpose of these cleanings is to prevent diseases. Cleaning healthy teeth can prevent the potential of gum disease and tooth decay in the future.
Prophylaxis cleanings involve removing plaque and tartar from teeth using a dental scaler or water stream. For most patients, this is the only cleaning that is required.
Scaling and root planning cleaning
Scaling and root planing cleanings involve deep cleanings of the teeth and gum pockets in order to treat gum diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis.
While scaling refers to the removal of plaque and tartar, root planing describes the smoothing of tooth roots. This can help the gums reattach to teeth, eliminating gum pockets.
Periodontal maintenance cleaning
This form of treatment also helps treat gum disease and is similar to scaling and root planning; however, it differs in terms of frequency.
Periodontal maintenance cleanings are done more often. Gum disease can worsen over time, and frequent cleaning can help prevent this from happening.
Gross debridement cleaning
This is the most intense form of cleaning and is meant for teeth that have a major buildup of plaque and tartar.
This usually occurs when someone has experienced personal difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene or has avoided going to the dentist. In gross debridement cleanings, dentists use an electric tool to loosen excess plaque and tartar.
The Importance of Frequent Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings reduce the risk of oral health issues like gum disease, prevent worsening issues from developing, and reduce costs by stopping issues before they can start.
You should schedule a dental cleaning appointment every six months to keep your dental care up to date. Even if you practice excellent oral hygiene at home, a dental professional can help address plaque that is difficult to remove and catch issues you might not notice on your own.
Benefits of Cleanings at Durango Dental
State of the Art Facility
Our modern equipment and caring staff help provide comfortable patient experiences.
Experience
Dr. Belt has more than a decade of dentistry experience and an excellent team equipped to provide you with the care you deserve.
Customer Care
We value personalized customer care and prioritize paying attention to individual needs.
Modern Technology
Our technology helps to provide patients with advanced treatments in a clean, comfortable environment.
Full-Service Dentistry
We pride ourselves on our all-inclusive dental services so that you can get the care you need under one roof.
Whether you are seeking a Durango dentist for a routine dental cleaning or for help addressing another issue, we are here to help meet your dental needs.
Contact us today to schedule your next dental cleaning appointment so that we can help you maintain a high standard of oral health.