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Professional Tooth Cleaning

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Tooth care is an important aspect of the overall maintenance of the human body. A dentist’s professional cleaning is one of the key aspects of attaining this. No matter how good you are at brushing and flossing at home or how often these cleanings are booked, there are always sticky deposits, such as 'plaque' and stubborn stains, or 'tartar' that regular cleaning does not get rid of. In this booklet, we shall look at what the process of professional tooth cleaning is, why it is important, and how many types of such cleaning procedures exist.

What is professional tooth cleaning?

Tooth cleaning, also called professional dental cleaning, is a dental hygiene procedure that involves the dental hygienist or dentist removing deposits such as plaque, calculus, and bacteria from the patient’s teeth and gingival area. It prevents cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems and helps keep a bright white smile. Usually, this procedure requires the use of tools and methods that would allow cleaning of the tooth surface, which are not reliably attainable by just brushing and flossing.

Why professional tooth cleaning is important?

While brushing and flossing every day is crucial for good oral hygiene, they cannot completely prevent plaque and tartar deposits from building up. If allowed to develop without appropriate treatment and care, plaque can eventually turn into tartar, which can result in cavities, gum diseases, and many other oral health issues. Professional cleaning services, however, help to

  • Avoid gum infections like gingivitis.
  • Reduce the chances of developing caries.
  • Helps in maintaining fresh breath and white teeth.
  • Early management of dental conditions, including cancer of the mouth.

Types of Dental Cleanings

There are different kinds of professional tooth cleaning procedures, and the one suggested for you varies depending on your oral health status. Below are the most frequently suggested types of dental cleanings:

Prophylaxis Cleaning (Routine Cleaning)

The regular cleaning process is appropriate for persons without gum or dental issues. Such cleaning procedures are advisable for the maintenance of oral hygiene and the prevention of future dental problems. Prophylaxis cleaning is done to clear the teeth of deposits, stains, and other materials.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Deep cleaning is usually prescribed for patients who have periodontal disease. It consists of scaling in which the plaque and tartar are cleared from the teeth just above and below the level of gum tissue and planing of the roots to smoothen the surface of the teeth and prevent any further colonisation of bacteria.

Gross Debridement Cleaning

This type of cleansing is carried out in instances where there is a heavy plaque and tartar deposition. Gross debridement serves the purpose of removing deposits on teeth that obstruct a clear evaluation of one’s oral health. After the initial removal, it often requires an additional cleaning.

Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning

For patients suffering from active periodontal disease, cleaning is called periodontal maintenance cleaning. This cleaning is not as superficial as it sounds, and it's geared towards halting the spread of periodontal disease.

What Happens During Your Dental Cleaning?

It has several stages and is usually performed by a dental hygienist or dentist in order to help maintain the health of your teeth and gums and do a professional cleaning. Here’s what happens in the fitting case:

An Oral Exam

Within the framework of professional oral hygiene, a detailed examination of the patient’s oral cavity is performed in order to ascertain the condition of the teeth and the gums. The dentist or the hygienist may need to use a small-sized mirror in order to look out for any cavities, gum diseases, and other problems that might arise.

A Pre-Cleanse Scrub

It may be required that a pre-wash scrub be performed to clear off bigger stacks of plaque or calculus that have been stressed on the teeth.

An Oral Irrigator

To ease this process, an oral irrigator, or a water flosser, is employed to remove any food debris that is lodged in between and around the gum line of the teeth, also known as the inner gingival papilla. This action helps to soften the plaque and bacteria, allowing a proper cleaning to be performed.

Personalised Tooth Cleaning

The procedure of cleaning the teeth will be modified in accordance with the condition of the patient’s teeth and the health of the gums. Using specialised tools, the hygienist will carefully remove plaque and tartar. This involves scaling (e.g., getting rid of the tartar) and polishing (i.e., cleaning and buffing the tooth surfaces of the teeth to eliminate any stains).

When Should You Get Your Tooth Cleaning?

Dental cleanings are usually done every six months for the majority of the population. Nonetheless, the interval may be influenced by factors such as oral well-being, way of life, and particular dental problems. Cleanings done within the provided timeline are good oral health practices and ensure that all issues being addressed are developed early, but if the owner of the teeth has dental problems like gum disease already, then dental visits may be more regular than the provided one.

How Frequently Should You Get Professional Tooth Cleaning?

Most people do not need professional dental cleanings more often than every six months, and this is endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA). However, your dentist may advise you on another schedule as deemed appropriate to your dental health. If you tend to have gum bleeding, have bad teeth cavities, or have braces, then you will need to have cleaning intervals of 3-4 months.

Who Needs More Frequent Tooth Cleaning?

Some people require more cleaning sessions than others in order to achieve and maintain the desired level of oral hygiene. For instance:

  • Smokers: Since smoking promotes plaque accumulation as well as discolouration of the teeth, quick cleaning maintenance is a must.
  • Individuals with gum disease: In the presence of conditions such as gingivitis or periodontitis, deep cleaning may be required more often.
  • Diabetics: Given the link between diabetes and predisposing one to oral complications, such patients are susceptible to infections and gum diseases.
  • People with a History of Cavities: If you are susceptible to dental cavities, then the ideal, at least, is to maintain dental cleans on a regular basis to help curb any further deterioration.

Tests Conducted During Professional Tooth Cleaning

Comprehensive oral health evaluation may involve carrying out several tests during the course of professional cleaning:

Visual Examination

This occurs when the dentist or the hygienist looks inside the patient’s mouth for cavities, gum diseases, or any other dental problems. A small mirror and a probe are often used to touch areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Periodontal Evaluation

During this assessment, the level of gum pockets around the teeth is evaluated to check the advancement of gum disease.

X-rays (if necessary)

Additionally, X-rays are taken to determine if there are any problems, like decay, bone loss, and embedded teeth that cannot be seen visually.

Cavity Detection

Tools are used by dentists to look for these and other changes that may indicate weakened enamel areas at risk of further decay.

Gum Health Assessment

This examination looks for signs of gum disease progression, including inflammation, recession, and gingival bleeding.

Benefits of Professional Tooth Cleaning

Prevention of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Frequent dental check-ups are essential as they help to combat plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can cause tooth cavities and gum infections, among other issues, if not addressed.

Removal of Stains and Discolouration

With the growing demand for flawless and adolescent-looking teeth, a dentist’s checkup calls for more than just a normal cleaning of the mouth. This is because, over time, certain harsh beverages such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and many more tend to cause surface staining of the teeth.

Fresher Breath

Harmful bacteria and calculus often build up on our teeth and contribute to a condition that leads to bad-smelling breath, also referred to as halitosis. Such procedures go a long way toward combating the sources of disagreeable odour, thus making one’s mouth cleaner and fresher.

Early Detection of Dental Problems

This is an important aspect of general oral health care as it entails, more often than not, the examination of the teeth and mouth in order to assess and identify general problems such as decay, periodontal disease, and even cancer of the mouth and throat at their ear.

Education on Oral Care

While your cleaning is being done by the dental hygienist, it is also the responsibility of the dental hygienist to educate you on performing certain practices at home that will keep your mouth clean, such as how to brush and floss correctly.

Procedure

A professional tooth cleaning generally involves several steps aimed at providing a deep and thorough cleaning. These steps may include:

  1. Scaling: Removal of plaque and tartar above and below the gum line.
  2. Polishing: buffing the surface of your teeth to remove surface stains and smooth the enamel.
  3. Fluoride Treatment: Sometimes, a fluoride treatment is applied to strengthen the enamel and prevent decay.
  4. Flossing: The hygienist will floss between your teeth to remove any remaining debris.

What to Expect?

You can hope for the process of professional cleaning of teeth to be elaborate but simple enough to bear. However, this may take a while, especially with excessive deposits of tartar or plaque; the end results justify the means. You will go out with a cleaner and whiter dentition, fresher breath, and most importantly, the comfort of knowing that your oral hygiene is well upheld.

To sum up, there is no way an individual can maintain healthy teeth and gum without undertaking a professional tooth cleaning. Aside from preventing the formation of cavities and gum diseases, it keeps bad breath at bay, keeps the teeth white, and helps in recognising oral issues as early as possible.