What Does a Dental Cleaning Involve?

Everyone knows that dental cleanings are essential to your oral health, but what is really involved in a cleaning and what should you expect when you are there?

First off your Dental Hygienist will start by updating your medically History. They may take your blood pressure and take notes on any changes with any medications you may be taking or if you have been hospitalized since your last visit. Once everything is clear they will assess that a cleaning is safe for you at this current time.

She/he will then examine your mouth before they begin to go around your mouth removing the plaque and calculus. They may use different instruments to do so, such as a scalar or an ultrasonic cleaner. With this you may hear a bit of scrapping sound and have water spraying in your mouth this is all normal.

They may follow the Tartar removal by polishing your teeth, with a gritty paste, usually a flavored mint or cherry paste. This can sometimes get a bit messy but they will rinses and floss your teeth afterwards. Not every appointment this is completed, only when necessary.

They may also apply fluoride. They have paint on varnish fluoride, which they will actually brush on your teeth. It can sometimes make your teeth a bit sticky afterwards. There is also a fluoride rinse that you swish around and spit out after 1 minute. There are many difference kinds and ways to apply fluoride.

The Dentist or Dental Hygienist may discuss during a cleaning if you have a lot of plaque or if you don’t regularly brush and floss your teeth. And the Hygienist may demonstrate on a model or with instructions on different techniques you can use.

If you are due for an exam, or if you have an area of concern that you would like looked at. The Dentist will come in and examine all your teeth. He/She will start in one quadrant of your mouth with a mirror and explorer and check each tooth. They will also examine any x-rays that had been taken that day.

Dental cleanings are usually recommended 2 times per year or more frequently depending on your gum/teeth health. Your hygienist will recommend how frequent you should come. While x-rays are typically updated once a year but may be more frequently depending on what your dentist recommends.