Regular dental cleanings are an essential part of maintaining your oral health. They are considered preventative treatments because they remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the surface of your teeth and along your gum line in order to reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The American Dental Association recommends having your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year, since this has been associated with significantly decreasing the risk of dental issues. For your convenience, teeth cleaning appointments are combined with your new patient or continuing care exam.
Did You Know?
Sometimes dental cleanings are known as prophylaxis cleanings, since the Greek word “phylax” translates to “to guard”. Basically, the purpose of a prophylaxis cleaning is to protect your oral health by removing things that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a dental cleaning?
Yes, everyone can benefit from dental cleanings, no matter their level of oral health. Even if you brush and floss daily, you will still need to have your teeth professionally cleaned to ensure that excess plaque, tartar, and bacteria are removed from the surface of your teeth and along the gum line. As mentioned before, the ADA recommends having your teeth cleaned twice a year. Are you due for a dental cleaning? Call Desert Pearl Dentistry today!
What can I expect when having a dental cleaning at Desert Pearl Dentistry?
In most cases, your dental cleaning will be performed by one of our compassionate dental hygienists. They will begin by using a tool called a dental scaler to gently scrape the surface of your teeth and along the gumline. This will loosen and remove large deposits of plaque and tartar, as well as the bacteria that resides within them. Once this process has been repeated on the front and back of every tooth, then the next step is to brush your teeth with a gritty toothpaste and floss in order to remove any small pieces of debris. After rinsing your mouth, a fluoride polish will be applied to the surface of your teeth to strengthen the enamel and decrease future plaque buildup.
In some cases, your dental hygienist may perform a deep cleaning. This type of cleaning is generally performed if you are showing signs of gum disease and it is known as scaling and root planing. Deep cleanings are similar to prophylaxis cleanings, however they also consist of removing plaque and tartar from exposed tooth roots. Then, the exposed tooth root surface is smoothed to encourage the gums to reattach to the root.
Do I need to follow any special instructions after having my teeth cleaned?
After having your teeth cleaned, you will simply need to continue practicing daily dental hygiene at home. Dental anesthetics are rarely used for dental cleanings, so you won’t need to wait before eating and drinking after your appointment. On your way out of the office, you can also schedule your next dental cleaning in six months.
