Have you recently experienced sensitivity while eating certain foods? Has it been years since you’ve had your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist? We’re here to help. We’ve broken down common questions relating to how teeth cleaning works and what to expect.
The first step in getting your teeth cleaned in our office is a comprehensive dental exam. All teeth cleanings are performed by one of our four dental hygienists. But, before the cleaning begins, we start with a thorough exam of your entire mouth so we can strategize the best way to move forward. The dental hygienist will work with one of our doctors to assess the health of your gums for any signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease as well as take a look at every tooth for any potential concerns of decay, wear, or discoloration that may need attention.
The second step is to remove any plaque or tartar. The more tartar in your mouth, the more time it might take. If the plaque remains on your teeth for too long the calcium in your saliva will harden it turning it into tartar which can only be removed by the tools of our hygienists. We use our hand instruments as well as a high-frequency tool called a Cavitron to quickly and easily remove buildup. Once all the plaque and tartar are gone, we will polish each tooth with either your traditional prophy paste or the prophy jet which mixes water and an erythritol powder to remove any residual debris and stain. We have many different kinds of interdental products for cleaning between teeth like traditional floss, super floss, floss threaders, etc. Flossing can be tricky if you have bridges, implants, or an implant-supported denture. We will review with you the best tools for you.
The last step of the cleaning process is a fluoride treatment. This treatment is used as a protectant for your teeth to help fight against cavities for several months. Since fluoride is your best way to protect your teeth against cavities we are always recommending an application after your teeth are cleaned. A varnish is applied to all natural teeth with a small brush that takes about a minute. Fluoride varnish will harden when in contact with saliva, so you can eat and drink immediately after. We recommend you stay away from anything hot that would melt it off for the next 4 hours. You may brush it off that evening.
Sometimes patients have sensitive teeth or gums and worry that teeth cleaning will be painful. We have several types of anesthetics we can use to help with the comfort such as a topical gel that is placed on sensitive areas or local anesthetic for areas where we need to go deeper into the pockets around the teeth. You might experience some sensitivity or soreness after your treatment but rinsing with warm salt water can help the gums heal quicker.
Our cleaning appointments are typically 60 minutes, however, a number of factors can influence how much time a dental cleaning can take, such as your dental health and the condition of your teeth. Dental health is an important factor in the length of time it takes to clean teeth. If your teeth and gums are healthy, free from gum disease, and clear of plaque and tartar, your dental cleaning visit will be short. Your appointment may take longer if you have difficult-to-remove tartar or gum disease.
The experience of your dental team plays an important role too. Our experienced dental hygienists will clean your teeth and remove any plaque or tartar comfortably and safely. Give us a call to schedule an appointment at (828) 254-1944 today!