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What to expect at your dental cleaning?

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Dental cleanings are an important dental procedure. They are necessary to maintain good oral hygiene and gum health. Because as we know, your gum health is a window into your overall health. Dental cleanings get rid of any plaque and tartar lining your teeth. This helps restore proper gum attachment to the tooth and also gets rid of halitosis/bad breath. They also include professional polishing to give a shine to your teeth.

Here are all the steps of a professional dental cleaning

1. Initial examination -

Prudentoe dental experts come to your doorstep with our equipment. We sit down and talk with you before starting the procedure. We understand your principal issues and expectations. The examination includes using a small mirror and probe to gauge the gum health. We check for signs of inflammation and the level of the plaque buildup. If we find any other issues like cavities or attrition, we take a note of it.

2. The procedure -

Once the clinical examination is done and we understand the stage of your gum health, we proceed to the next step accordingly. Using proper sterilisation protocol, the dentist will start the cleaning procedure –
  • A dental cleaning device called a ‘scaler’ is used. The tip of this will be run through your gum line and in-between your teeth.
  • Due to the vibrating force of the device, debris will be cleaned out and plaque will be broken off into pieces. You might hear a scraping sound which is normal.
  • Slight bleeding from gums and sensitivity might also be normal during the procedure
  • Once all the surfaces of all teeth are cleaned, you will be asked to rinse.

3. Polishing -

Once the entire cleaning procedure is completed, your dentist will go forward with a simple ‘polishing’ procedure. A ‘gritty’ toothpaste kind of material will be applied on the front surfaces of your teeth and polished with a soft rubber cup. This scrubs the teeth without wearing down the enamel, leaving the teeth with a shiny surface.
4. Post procedure care -

Once the cleaning is done, you might feel that there are ‘gaps’ between your teeth but no, understand that these are just natural gaps that were covered with bad plaque. And with time, healthy, new gum growth will be seen in these spaces.

You do not have to worry about any food restrictions or diet changes. The dentist will also show you a proper brushing and flossing technique for you to follow daily.

  • Things to note -
  • Some severe cases with more plaque and tartar might require more than one session of cleaning.
  • To maintain good oral hygiene permanently, maintenance is very important. You are advised to get a professional dental cleaning at least once every 6 months.
  • In some cases cleaning is not just one procedure. Issues like erosion of the dental surface or inflamed gums might go hand in hand causing you pain and sensitivity. Hence, the dentist will suggest follow-up treatments to address all these issues. Be sure to plan accordingly.
Now that you know in detail every step that goes into the dental cleaning, there is no reason to postpone it any longer. Book an appointment now.