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Dental cleanings prevent tooth loss.
Dr. Schmidt will examine your teeth to look for signs of problems like tooth decay, gum disease, or oral cancer. If any abnormalities are detected, we’ll take a biopsy and send it out for lab testing. We may also take x-rays to get a more comprehensive look at your oral health beneath the surface.
Using a scaler or ultrasonic cleaner, we will scrape away plaque and tartar from your teeth and around the gum line.
After we’ve scaled your teeth, we will clean them with a specialized high-power electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste. This will polish your teeth by removing surface stains. We will then floss between your teeth to remove debris.
After rinsing your mouth, a fluoride varnish that will remineralize your teeth and protect you from cavities will be applied to your teeth. You will need to avoid eating for 30 minutes.
Since there is a strong link between oral health and overall health, cleaning your teeth can reduce your risk for serious conditions like heart disease.
A dental cleaning will not only remove a buildup of food particles, plaque, and tartar but will also leave your teeth looking whiter and your breath smelling fresher. During scaling, we scrape away plaque and tartar buildup so that they don’t contribute to tooth decay or gum disease.
Polishing your teeth also removes surface stains to reduce discoloration and removes odor-causing bacteria. By getting your teeth cleaned, you reduce your cavity risk. We also perform an oral exam during a dental cleaning and screen you for signs of oral cancer.
Getting checked for these things is important because gum disease and oral cancer are only reversible in the early stages.
The ADA recommends that everyone have their teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months. This recommendation holds for patients of all ages, but some people who have an increased risk for oral health problems may require more frequent cleanings.
Patients with diabetes, dry mouth, a high cavity risk, a history of advanced gum disease, or full dentures may need to go to the dentist every 3 to 4 months. Regular cleanings at least twice a year prevent plaque and tartar buildup that contribute to oral health problems.
By visiting the dentist this frequently, we can detect early warning signs of oral health problems early enough to reverse them. We will also be able to keep your teeth and gums in good condition so that plaque doesn’t harden into tartar and you don’t get a tooth infection which can require invasive and costly treatment or even the loss of teeth.
During cleanings and checkups, your dentist can check on your dental work and let you know if anything needs to be replaced.
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