Hello, I'm Elizabeth Kessler, a dental hygienist at Dental Care by Design. We get a lot of questions about dental cleanings. Today, I'm going to answer a few of the most common questions on this topic to give you a better understanding of our appointments.
What are the main differences in the dental cleanings?
The three main types of dental cleanings are regular adult or child cleanings, deep cleanings, and maintenance cleanings after a deep cleaning is completed. I will go into a few details about each type of dental cleaning. Regular adult or child cleaning, which we call prophylaxis, means that the gums and the bone under the gums are healthy and all we have to do is maintain them in this healthy condition. A deep cleaning is for people with underlying gum and bone loss, known as periodontitis. There are a few stages of bone loss under the gums: mild, moderate, and severe. Eventually, this can lead to tooth loss. People who have not been visiting the dentist regularly or maintaining their teeth and gums at home often have periodontitis, which is often accompanied by tartar buildup on their teeth. It has been proven that periodontitis is linked to heart disease, diabetes, smoking, and other general health conditions. A deep cleaning takes two to four appointments, depending on the severity of bone loss and the amount of buildup on the teeth under the gums. We usually divide the mouth into four quadrants and clean one or two quadrants at each visit. A maintenance cleaning is for people with bone loss and gum disease called periodontitis. We see people for this type of cleaning more often to make sure that we slow down or stop the bone loss process by removing the tartar and plaque buildup and bacteria under their gums.
What is the importance of a dental cleaning?
Dental cleaning is very important. It reduces the plaque, bacteria, and inflammation in your gums. If bacteria and plaque are not removed from under the gums, the process of bone loss starts. The first stage in the process of inflammation in the gums is called gingivitis. This process is accompanied by swollen, red, bleeding, and sometimes painful gums. If the dental cleaning is not done at this stage, the process of inflammation progresses into the bone loss disease process called periodontitis. The goal of regular dental cleaning is to stop or prevent the process of bone loss. By following the routine of a regular dental cleaning schedule, we also prevent or slow down the rate of decay on the teeth. We remove the plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums and do not allow dental decay to progress.
How often should I have a dental cleaning?
How often you have a dental cleaning depends on the type of cleaning and your gum health. Regular dental cleaning should be done every six months to help the gums and the bone under the gums stay healthy. Sometimes, if a person has difficulty cleaning their teeth at home, we recommend having a regular dental cleaning every four months to ensure that bone loss and decay are not developing. When bone loss progresses, a person will need a deep cleaning. We meet two to four times to finish a deep cleaning. These appointments should be close together to ensure that bacteria are not spread from the parts that are not cleaned to the parts that have been cleaned. A deep cleaning is usually repeated every three to five years, depending on the gums and the bone condition. The maintenance cleaning is done in one appointment for the whole mouth, and maintenance cleanings require visits every three to four months, which equals three to four times per year. During these appointments, we clean your entire mouth.
Is a dental cleaning painful?
If you come to the dentist for a cleaning regularly, the cleaning is not painful and takes much less time than when the cleanings are infrequent. The more gum inflammation that is present, the more swollen, puffy, and bleeding the gums will be, making the experience more unpleasant. Imagine if you cut your finger and every time you touch it, it causes you pain. It is the same situation; you will feel pain when your gums are unhealthy. Another way to check your gum inflammation level is to see if your gums bleed. Bleeding gums and pain are not normal; healthy gums do not bleed or cause pain. During a deep cleaning, we can provide anesthesia to ensure your comfort. Some people choose not to get numb for the deep cleaning, and that's a good option as well. It all depends on your personal level of comfort.
How long should a typical dental cleaning take?
A typical dental cleaning takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour. In the case of a deep cleaning, it can take from two to four hours, but this is done over several appointments.
What happens during a teeth cleaning?
What happens during the cleaning depends on whether it is your first time with us or not. At your first appointment, the dental hygienist or dentist will measure your gums to ensure that we perform the appropriate type of cleaning for you. If your gums are healthy, we usually perform the regular cleaning on the same day. In case you need a deep cleaning, we will discuss your gum and bone health condition and reschedule you for the deep cleaning. During a cleaning, we use special instruments and a professional Waterpik device to remove buildup and tartar, plaque, and bacteria from around your teeth and gums. We then polish your teeth and floss them. In the case of a deep cleaning, we will irrigate around your gums with a special medication to reduce bacterial activity and to ensure a successful healing process.
Are dental hygienists able to remove all the tartar during a dental cleaning?
It depends on the amount and size of the tartar buildup and the amount of inflammation in your gums. If a dental hygienist feels confident that they have time to remove all the tartar without causing you discomfort, they will do so during a regular routine cleaning. If the tartar buildup is extensive, which is often accompanied by gum disease and inflammation, they will reschedule you for a deep cleaning appointment.
Can dental cleaning damage teeth?
Dental cleaning cannot damage your teeth when it is done properly. A dental hygienist is a highly trained professional and does not remove part of your teeth. They only remove the buildup of tartar and plaque that should not be on your teeth. After a properly done dental cleaning, your teeth and gums feel better. Clean gums do not bleed and form tight, healthy contact with your teeth and bone.
How do I treat sensitive teeth after a dental cleaning?
There are several things that can be done to reduce sensitivity after a cleaning. However, not all teeth become sensitive after a cleaning. Tooth sensitivity after a cleaning is not a common problem. In our office, we offer fluoride varnish application right after tooth cleaning, which significantly reduces sensitivity. You can also use Sensodyne toothpaste at home, which has proven to be effective against sensitivity. We can also prescribe toothpaste from our office that reduces decay and tooth sensitivity.
How can I schedule a dental cleaning?
Call us to schedule your first dental visit. If you have not been to the dentist in a few months to a few years, your first visit will include taking radiographs or X-rays and conducting a thorough examination to determine what type of cleaning you need. If you have healthy gums and bone, you will have a regular cleaning on the same day of your first visit. If our dental examination shows that you need a deep cleaning, we will discuss your gum and bone conditions so that you have a good understanding of the situation, and we will schedule you for a deep cleaning at your next visit.
I hope we've been able to answer some of your questions on dental cleanings. If you have additional questions or are ready to take action, please give us a call at (360) 800-2372. We're here to help.