How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
Having your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year is the best way to maintain optimal oral health! Your dental hygienist is able to reach plaque and tartar that have accumulated on the teeth even slightly below the gum line that you cannot reach on your own. They also remove staining to help brighten your teeth and prevent more plaque buildup.
Professional dental cleanings are imperative to good oral hygiene and give you the ability to better maintain your oral health at home. Most patients can have their teeth cleaned twice per year but some require more frequent cleanings, every 3 to 4 months. Patients that suffer from periodontal disease are more likely to require a more frequent cleaning schedule.
When plaque is not removed regularly, it can turn into hard tartar that cannot be removed with just a toothbrush and dental floss. Your hygienist has tools available to remove hardened tartar which can cause periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Left untreated, plaque buildup can cause gum recession which can lead to exposed root surfaces and a great deal of sensitivity in the teeth. plaque and tartar harbor bacteria which can lead to decay in tooth enamel and require patients to need restorative work such as fillings, onlays, or dental crowns.
What is involved in a dental cleaning?
A full set of dental x-rays are taken every 5 to 7 years and check up x-rays are taken annually on just your back teeth. Your dentist will study your x-rays and make sure that they do not see any decay or fractures.
To begin, your hygienist may use an ultrasonic tool called a cavitron. This device uses water and vibrations to loosen plaque and tartar deposits, making it easier for your hygienist to scrape them away with their hand tools. Once larger pieces of tartar are dislodged with the cavitron, your hygienist will begin to scale your teeth with handheld instruments. With these tools, they can reach between teeth and slightly below the gumline to make sure everything is clean and healthy.
After scaling is complete, your hygienist will floss each tooth and make sure everything is clean before moving onto polishing. Polishing uses a thick, gritty paste which is applied with a rubber tipped hand piece that spins to polish each tooth. Once they are done polishing, they will have you rinse your mouth and apply any necessary fluoride treatments.
When your hygienist is done with your cleaning, your dentist will come in to examine your teeth and review your x-rays with you. If they spot any areas of your mouth that need additional treatment, they will discuss that with you as well.
All said and done, a professional dental cleaning takes 45 minutes to an hour. During this time, your hygienist will help you learn techniques so that you are able to better care for your teeth at home. Professional routine cleanings are a vital part of oral health and enable you to keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent periodontal disease.