Scheduling your dental cleaning may seem like the end of the world. However, if you know what happens during your cleaning it will help ease your nerves and help you enjoy the experience. Let’s go over the steps of a dental cleaning appointment.
Physical Exam
Your dental hygienist will start with a physical examination of your teeth mouth and gums. They will look for any gum inflammation, signs of gingivitis, new cavities, or any chips or holes in your teeth. If they discover anything that looks concerning, they will consult with the dentist and ask if it is safe to proceed with the cleaning. You may also receive x-rays if your x-rays are not up-to-date or if they discovered something new that requires an x-ray.
Removal of Plaque and Tartar
Your dental hygienist will then start to remove all the plaque and build up tartar with a tool called a scaler. They scrape along your gum line as well as between your teeth. The more tartar build up there is the longer they may need to use the scaler to remove it.
Toothpaste Cleaning
After teeth have been cleaned with the scaler for a dental hygienist will use an electric high-powered brush with gritty toothpaste to deep clean any left-over tartar. This may sound loud but will not hurt. The gritty toothpaste works to polish as well as clean your teeth. During this process your dental hygienist will rinse your teeth and apply suction to remove the water. You can let your dentist know if you’re feeling uncomfortable with the rinse. If you feel like you have too much water in your mouth all you need to do is close your mouth to allow the suction to remove any excess water.
Flossing
Next your dental hygienist will floss your teeth. This will remove any remaining tartar that was hiding between your teeth or near your gum line. It may seem like this is a redundant process, but your dental hygienist is an expert flosser and will get anywhere that was missed. One more rinse and it’s onto the fluoride treatment.
Fluoride Treatment
The final step in the theme process is a fluoride treatment. This treatment is a protectant for your teeth and will help you fight off cavities. They’ll place a paste onto your teeth with a small brush.
Professional dental cleanings are an important part of your dental and overall health. Be sure to schedule cleanings twice a year. Many things can happen in six months. So, it’s important that you stay on track with your cleanings.
