Teeth Cleaning

One of the most common reasons people see an oral health professional is to get their teeth cleaned. Regular teeth cleanings are a good idea, and provide many benefits for patients.

Preventive dental care is the essential to preserving a healthy smile. One of the ways we help patients at The MIAMI Institute enjoy healthier smiles is by providing gentle, professional dental teeth cleanings.

Most of our patients benefit from having their teeth cleaned every 6 months, or more often if necessary. These visits allow us to remove calcified bacteria (tartar) and plaque biofilm from areas that are difficult to keep clean with simple brushing or flossing.

As we clean each of your teeth, we are also screening for conditions that may be weakening your enamel or making teeth susceptible to problems later on. This helps the doctor to provide you with more proactive, preventive options before complications arise. You can then avoid certain types of conditions or unnecessary dental treatment by taking proactive measures early.

Teeth whitening is a common option patients choose after a dental cleaning. The teeth whitening process reveals a whiter smile that erases the signs teeth stains and tartar buildup. When combined with regular teeth cleanings, teeth whitening is a simple way to get the best smile possible. Learn more about teeth whitening.

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What Happens During a Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis)

Having your teeth cleaned isn’t just about polishing away superficial stain – although that is one part of it. Rather, it focuses on creating a completely clean surface along each tooth, as well as under the gumlines.

Remove calcified tartar deposits

The doctor or one of the Registered Dental Hygienists will use a set of sterile instruments to gently lift and remove calcified tartar deposits. These areas of buildup are formed from microscopic amounts of plaque that have been left behind after brushing or flossing. As they calcify day after day, it leaves behind a residue that is tightly bonded to your tooth enamel. Brushing and flossing cannot remove it. Bacterial plaque and tartar will harbor bacteria that can create gum infections, such as gingivitis.

You may experience symptoms such as:

• Swelling
• Gums that bleed
• Tenderness

Eliminating the bacteria is the first step in helping to reverse your oral infection. Without a healthy environment that is kept clean, your body will be unable to do all of the work on its own. Thoroughly cleaning the surfaces of each tooth allows your body to fight inflammation of the gums, as well as encourage gum reattachment in areas where periodontal disease may have started to develop.

A thin ultrasonic scaler gently lifts larger deposits of tartar and stain. As it sends thousands of microscopic vibrations through the smooth tip, water irrigates away the debris as it is removed from the teeth. This makes the cleaning appointment more efficient as well as comfortable.

Dental Teeth Cleaning Process

Step 1: Examination

The first step in any dental cleaning is a thorough examination. This will include a visual inspection of your teeth and gums, and will also likely involve x-rays to evaluate tooth and jawbone health. Once the examination has been completed, the cleaning can proceed.

Step 2: Plaque and Tartar Removal

The next step is the removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth. This is accomplished using a tool called a scaler to get rid of tartar and plaque from between the patient’s teeth and gum line. Tartar can only be removed by a dental teeth cleaning, although brushing and flossing will help prevent it from accumulating.

Step 3: Brushing

After plaque and tartar have been removed, the next step is to use a special toothpaste and high-power brush to clean the teeth. The toothpaste is gritty, which polishes the teeth and helps make smiles whiter and brighter. This sort of intensive polishing is safe to occasionally have done at a dentist office, but shouldn’t be done too frequently or attempted at home.

Step 4: Flossing

Flossing follows the brushing, and this will remove any tartar or plaque that remains in the mouth. Expert flossing also helps with the prevention and detection of weak gums and early-stage gum disease. The patient then rinses their mouth to eliminate any debris remaining from the plaque and tartar removal, brushing, and flossing.

Step 5: Fluoride

The final step in the dental teeth cleaning process is a fluoride treatment. This treatment can come in many forms, including gels placed into a tray, or sprays. Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents cavities from developing, making it an essential part of any dental teeth cleaning.

The Benefits of Teeth Cleaning

Tooth Benefits

A dental teeth cleaning can help prevent cavities. Oral health professionals can reach and remove plaque and tartar that might be difficult for patients to reach themselves. Additionally, a dental cleaning can help remove stains caused by food and beverages. As a result, Dental cleaning affords patients a brighter smile than they can achieve by themselves.

Dental cleaning also facilitates early detection of cracked, broken, and fractured teeth, as well as early-stage cavities. Detecting these issues early on is vital to taking action that will save the patient’s smile as well as their pocketbook.

Periodontal Benefits

In addition to helping protect teeth, a dental teeth cleaning is essential to good periodontal, or gum, health. Gum disease can result in many negative health outcomes like bone loss, tooth loss, infection, and has been linked to an increase risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

Moreover, periodontal issues and gum disease can result in other undesirable conditions, like bad breath, increased pain and sensitivity, and other issues. A dental teeth cleaning can prevent, detect, and help treat periodontal conditions.

Other Health Benefits

There are a number of links between oral health and overall health. Patients with clean mouths have reported an enhanced overall sense of wellbeing, and studies have found connections between oral health and hygiene and heart disease and stroke.

If You Need Something More During Teeth Cleaning

Sometimes a lapse in care or inadequate oral hygiene can allow conditions such as periodontal disease to develop. When severe infection or tartar buildup is present, a preventive cleaning isn’t adequate.

Instead, the doctor will recommend a series of deep cleanings. Deep cleanings are more intensive and allow us to restore your smile back to the level of health that is necessary for preserving your teeth.

You may be experiencing periodontal disease if you have symptoms such as:

• Bad breath
• Gum recession
• Gum detachment (“pocketing”)
• Bone loss
• Tooth mobility
• Tooth loss
• Food collecting between teeth

Once we have been able to help you eliminate* oral disease from your smile, we can place you on a preventive care program that continues to keep your teeth clean and healthy. That way the doctor can help you preserve your natural teeth as long as possible. Should any teeth need to be removed due to accelerated periodontal disease, The MIAMI Institute offers a wide array of permanent tooth replacement options to choose from – such as dental implants and bridges.

What Else to Expect during Teeth Cleaning

At Barsky DDS, we usually schedule your preventive cleaning alongside of an exam. That means the doctor will screen for new conditions or assess those we have been monitoring after your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned.

In some cases we will also need to take a series of digital radiographs. High resolution x-rays allow us to identify areas of tartar buildup under the gumlines, between the teeth. Consequently, they also allow the doctor to assess the bone support and possible development of tooth decay during your exam.

The doctor or our hygienist will also measure the level of gum attachment throughout your mouth during the course of your cleaning. We will thoroughly review each and every finding with you, so that you can make an educated choice on the care of your smile.

Let Barsky DDS Help You Enjoy a Positive Dental Experience

If you have disliked having your teeth cleaned in the past, please let us know. We use gentle, skilled hands that help put your mind at ease, regardless of how simple or complex your cleaning is.

Regardless of whether it has been 6 months since your last cleaning, or 6 years – Barsky DDS is happy to help you take control of your oral health and retain a beautiful smile. We are also able to provide you with a variety of cosmetic and aesthetic treatments to enhance the way your teeth look. The doctor is a board certified prosthodontist and expert in smile enhancement and rehabilitation.

What is a Prosthodontist

The Advantage of Visiting a Prosthodontist for Teeth Cleaning

Some patients wonder why they need to see a professional when then brush and floss regularly at home. While brushing and flossing are important, they don’t provide the same benefits as a dental teeth cleaning, like polishing and fluoride treatment. This means that patients get a brighter smile and stronger teeth if they get regular dental cleanings.

A prosthodontist has many years extra training and practice than a standard dentist, and will know the best techniques and methods to provide patients with a high quality dental cleaning. A board-certified prosthodontist will be able to ensure that your smile looks its best while taking care that your teeth and mouth are as healthy as possible.

Schedule Your Teeth Cleaning with Dr. Barsky Today

If you are considering a dental teeth cleaning, call the office of Dr. Barsky. The doctor will meet with you in one a consultation suite to answer any questions that you may have about the process to get the cleanest teeth and brightest smile possible.

Experience a visit at Barsky DDS