Regular dental cleanings with a dentist help prevent the formation of plaque and tartar. Also, regular teeth scaling and polishing are important to keep your teeth free of stains. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is not enough. But oral care involves more than this. Your teeth must be given the special care that an Aliso Viejo dentist can offer to stay clean and healthy.
Importance of Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional teeth cleanings involve different steps to prevent or eliminate plaque and tartar. Plaque buildups result in different problems like tooth discoloration, tooth abscess formation, tooth decay, gingivitis, and tooth loss. Regular cleanings and proper dental care prevent common conditions like tooth decay and dental cavities. Dentists usually recommend dental visits every six months.
Dental visits include thorough dental examinations. A hygienist can deep clean your teeth and take X-rays. These checkups help your dentist spot early signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and enamel erosion. With early detection, your dentist can establish a treatment plan to alleviate tooth decay symptoms.
Steps Involved in Professional Dental Cleanings
Choosing an experienced dentist is vital for your dental health. Visit the best dentist in Aliso Viejo for your dental treatments and procedures. Routine dental cleanings involve the following steps:
- Physical examination. Dental cleanings start with a mouth exam meant to determine the condition of your oral health. This process can help detect developing issues that your dentist can address promptly. It checks for decay, inflammation, or other dental issues.
- Scaling. Your dentist will get rid of the tartar around your gumline and between the teeth using a dental scaler and a mirror to guide them.
- Deep cleaning and polishing. After tartar removal, the dentist will brush the teeth using an electric toothbrush to eliminate residual tartar after scaling.
- Flossing. This is meant to eliminate residual paste and plaque.
- Rinsing. Rinsing the mouth gets rid of tartar residue.
- Fluoride treatment. This step protects your teeth from dental cavities until your next appointment.
Dental Cleaning Duration
Generally, dental cleanings take around thirty minutes if you have been diligently sticking to your oral health routine at home. However, if the tartar buildup is significant, or the dentist has performed root planing or deep cleaning, the procedure can take at least one hour.
Regular Dental Cleaning versus Deep Cleaning
A deep dental cleaning is a more extensive procedure than a regular dental cleaning. Regular cleanings supplement your oral hygiene regimen at home to prevent gum issues and cavities. However, if you have a serious tartar buildup inside your mouth and gum pockets have been developing, your dentist may perform deep cleaning to correct such issues. During a deep cleaning, a special tool is used to clean deep into gum pockets around the teeth along the roots. This will completely get rid of plaque and tartar. A deep cleaning includes root planing while a regular cleaning does not.
Sometimes, deep cleaning can require more visits to the dentist. The dentist must monitor the gums and teeth. Deep dental cleanings are more uncomfortable than regular cleanings. If you have sensitive gums, local anesthesia may be administered to make you feel comfortable during the process. Also, your dentist may recommend using a desensitizing toothpaste to offer relief to the sensitivity. When tartar and plaque buildups are not addressed, they will continue to ruin your teeth and the gum pockets will grow bigger, putting you at risk of tooth and bone loss.
Regular dental cleanings should be part of your routine oral health care. You should choose a trusted dentist you feel comfortable with to perform these procedures. The best dentist in the city can keep your gums and teeth healthy and ensure you are confident with your smile.