Dental Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings are important to maintaining good oral hygiene. A professional cleaning by a licensed hygienist can remove plaque and mineralized plaque (calculus) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. It is recommended (for majority of people) that you go in for a preventative cleaning once every six months.
How it's done
You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes and an hour. A licensed dental hygienist will do the cleaning, and one of the dentists will come in for an exam. Most people find that dental cleanings are painless and do not cause any discomfort.
There are three important steps to a dental cleaning. The first step is taking necessary diagnostic x-rays needed to reveal any conditions that may not be detected without them. The frequency of the dental x-rays is determined by the dentist for each individual patient. The second step is cleaning the teeth, where the hygienist will remove the plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces above the gumline. This can be performed by hand instruments or with ultrasonic scalers depending on your preference. Following the cleaning, the hygienist will also polish and floss. The gums will then be assessed with a periodontal exam. The third step is the dental exam which will be done by the dentist. He will review all the information gathered and discuss options for any needed dental treatment.
How it's done
You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes and an hour. A licensed dental hygienist will do the cleaning, and one of the dentists will come in for an exam. Most people find that dental cleanings are painless and do not cause any discomfort.
There are three important steps to a dental cleaning. The first step is taking necessary diagnostic x-rays needed to reveal any conditions that may not be detected without them. The frequency of the dental x-rays is determined by the dentist for each individual patient. The second step is cleaning the teeth, where the hygienist will remove the plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces above the gumline. This can be performed by hand instruments or with ultrasonic scalers depending on your preference. Following the cleaning, the hygienist will also polish and floss. The gums will then be assessed with a periodontal exam. The third step is the dental exam which will be done by the dentist. He will review all the information gathered and discuss options for any needed dental treatment.
