Teeth Cleaning & Dental Checkups
There are several proactive steps you can take to protect your oral health, and regular professional cleanings every six months are a great foundation. During your visit, our skilled hygienists and dentists will identify plaque buildup and potential issues, thoroughly clean your teeth, and offer personalized tips to help you maintain a bright, healthy smile.
Why is It Important to Have Consistent Teeth Cleanings and Checkups?
Routine checkups are a vital component of maintaining good oral health. Regular dental cleanings offer several important benefits, including:
- Beautiful, healthy smiles.
- Healthier teeth, gums, and jaw bones.
- Longer lasting dental restorations.
- Early detection and treatment of oral health conditions including oral cancer.
What Happens When We Miss Teeth Cleanings?
Neglecting routine dental exams and professional cleanings can lead to a variety of oral health issues, such as:
- Higher risk of developing dental cavities
- Gum infections and progression to periodontal disease
- Damage or failure of dental restorations and prosthetics due to poor maintenance
- Persistent bad breath and declining oral hygiene
- Difficulty chewing and eating properly, which may impact digestion, nutrition, and general health
- Possible links to cardiovascular problems and compromised overall well-being
Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining both oral and systemic health.
The Teeth Cleaning Procedure
During your dental cleaning, your hygienist carefully identifies and removes plaque—a soft film that can be brushed away—and tartar, which is hardened plaque that must be removed with special dental tools. We thoroughly clean all surfaces of your teeth, including between teeth and along the gumline, where bacteria tend to accumulate.
To finish the cleaning, we use a special polishing paste called prophy paste. Its initial coarse texture helps eliminate any remaining plaque, and as it breaks down, it smooths and shines your teeth. We’ll also point out areas where buildup tends to occur so you can focus on those spots during your daily brushing and flossing. Our aim is to help you maintain a healthy, easy-to-care-for smile.
Are There Different Kinds of Teeth Cleanings?
No, prophylaxis—commonly known as a routine dental cleaning—is a unique preventive procedure performed every six months to maintain oral health. It’s designed for patients with healthy gums and involves removing plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth.
Other procedures sometimes referred to as “cleanings” are actually periodontal treatments, which address gum disease and go beyond the scope of a standard cleaning. These include:
- Full Mouth Debridement – This is a pre-cleaning procedure for patients with severe plaque and calculus (tartar) buildup. It helps remove the thick deposits so we can properly assess your teeth and gums before a full exam or other treatment.
- Scaling and Root Planing – Often called a deep cleaning, this treatment is for patients showing signs of early gum disease. It removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces to promote healing and prevent further infection.
- Periodontal Maintenance – This is a specialized cleaning for patients with a history of gum disease. It’s done more frequently than routine cleanings and focuses on keeping gum disease from returning or progressing.
