A dental cleaning is a procedure that helps with the routine maintenance of teeth. Patients who practice good oral habits see their dentists every six months. During these routine appointments, a dentist adds teeth cleaning to their to-do list.
Not all dental cleanings are the same. Some patients may have oral health issues that require a more aggressive form of teeth cleaning. In such cases, dental cleaning becomes a corrective procedure instead of a preventative one. This underscores the need to be proactive about professional dental cleaning.
Dentists recommend that their patients brush their teeth at least twice a day. They also advise their patients to brush for two minutes and floss their teeth daily. Good dental hygiene aims to reach all surfaces of the teeth to prevent plaque buildup.
However, the surfaces of some teeth are hard to reach, and they often go unattended for extended periods. This causes plaque buildup that is best removed by a professional dental cleaning. Depending on the oral health needs of an individual, there are different types of teeth cleaning procedures that a dentist will recommend.
The type of cleaning a dentist recommends will depend on the state of a patient's teeth and gums. It may also depend on the systemic health of a patient. Types of dental cleaning procedures include:
The term prophylaxis points to a preventative measure, which is what standard dental cleaning is. This is the type of teeth cleaning that a dentist performs during a routine dental checkup. As a preventative procedure that maintains oral health, regular teeth cleanings are for patients in good oral health. Regular dental cleanings remove plaque buildup from the tooth structures that sit above the gumline. It is a process that involves:
The procedure removes plaque and stains while adding a new layer of minerals to the enamel. It takes about an hour from start to finish.
Regular dental cleaning only targets the tooth structures that sit above the gumline. Scaling and root planing target the base of the teeth, the gum pockets and the tooth roots. This means that the procedure is a little more invasive than prophylaxis cleaning.
A dentist will only recommend scaling and root planing if their patient has extensive plaque and tartar buildup. Chances are that such a patient also suffers from mild or moderate gum disease. For patients with gum disease, scaling and root planing is a process that requires several sessions in the dentist’s chair. This brings us to the next aspect of teeth cleaning.
This is the continuous monitoring and maintenance of a patient’s oral health. Dentists recommend this treatment plan for people who suffer from some form of gum disease. They may also recommend it to a person with systemic health issues that affect their oral health.
Periodontal maintenance involves dental appointments that take place weeks apart. The dentist will use these appointments to check on the health of their patient’s teeth. When necessary, the dentist will perform standard or deep cleaning. Or the dentist may perform scaling and root planing.
This procedure is geared towards patients who have a large and widespread buildup of plaque. A good candidate for this procedure is a person with lax oral hygiene who rarely gets professional dental cleanings.
A dentist usually performs gross debridement as part of a larger treatment plan. By removing a large coating of plaque and tartar, the dentist can do an accurate visual exam of their patient’s teeth and gums.
Our general dentist will take good care of your teeth if they need to be cleaned. Call or visit our Long Beach clinic to set up an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://lbfamilydental.com or call Leila Zamiri DDS at (562) 387-1216 for an appointment in our Long Beach office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Cleaning and Examinations in Long Beach, CA.
Everyone wants to keep their smile white and healthy for as long as possible, and a complete dental exam every six months is the best way to achieve this goal. You want to find a dentist you are comfortable with, establish a good relationship, and keep up with your oral health. Many patients suffer from dental…
A dental deep cleaning is an in-depth cleaning procedure that is typically done by a dentist who offers periodontal services. These cleanings are called "deep cleanings" because they go much deeper beneath the soft tissues than a traditional cleaning would. During a dental deep cleaning, a general dentist will scrape beneath the gum tissues and…
Getting ready to make your dental cleaning appointment with your dentist? When combined with everyday oral care, routine cleanings help prevent cavities and gum disease.Even for patients who practice good oral care when at home by regularly brushing and flossing their teeth, it is still necessary to make routine cleaning appointments with a dentist. There…
Regular visits to the general dentist for a Dental Checkup are vital for anyone who wants to maintain good oral health. Oral hygiene is important, and even with daily brushing and flossing, there is a chance that undetected oral issues such as cavities and receding gum lines could be present, which might require a proper…
An appointment with a family dentist will always be customized according to a patient’s unique needs, but there are still a few things that you can typically expect. Family dentists aim to identify problems early, before they become significant issues. They will strive to ensure that your teeth last as long as possible while giving…
Proper oral hygiene is an often-overlooked but important part of a person's dental health, as well as overall health. In general dentistry, routine dental exams are a crucial aspect of oral healthcare that maintains healthy teeth. However, there are many myths surrounding exams.The following are three of the most common myths about dental exams, as…