Dentists agree that the key to a perfect smile is to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every evening. They also recommend visiting a dentist at least once or twice a year to get your teeth professionally cleaned.To read more click here.
Unfortunately, many people avoid visiting the dentist for varied reasons, never to get their dental cleaning. Some people can’t afford dental appointments and don’t have insurance coverage to pay for treatments. Others have extreme dental phobia and only visit a dentist when they have a painful dental condition.
By then, their dental health is so bad that they lose some teeth. Or they have to undergo painful dental procedures that end up worsening their phobia.
Ironically, visiting the dentist twice a year for a routine cleaning could prevent painful dental visits. Yet many people hate dental cleanings and put them off as long as possible.
Yes, the procedure can be uncomfortable because you must sit back and keep your mouth wide open for over half an hour. But teeth cleaning is generally painless, and the benefits far outweigh the hour or so of discomfort.
Clear information about dental procedures and how to prepare for the appointment could help relieve a lot of anxiety. If this is why you have been avoiding a dental cleaning, keep reading to learn more about what you can expect.
So, what exactly is a dental cleaning? This is where a dentist removes plaque, tartar, and stuck food particles from the teeth. When we eat, certain food particles and dental plaque get stuck in hard-to-reach areas of our teeth.
This includes the corners of the tooth, grooves on our molars, and the areas where the teeth sink into the gums. Over time, the plaque hardens into a hard-to-remove substance called tartar. Regular brushing and flossing can’t remove tartar, so it is advisable to do routine dental cleaning.
Why do dentists recommend a dental cleaning once or twice a year? Unremoved tartar can cause many oral health problems, including tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
Tartar that forms at the roots of the teeth weakens the supporting bones and eventually leads to tooth loss. While you can’t get rid of tartar by yourself, dentists have special tools and chemicals that they can use to get rid of it.
Because dental cleaning gets rid of tartar, it also prevents gum disease. There is a strong link between gum disease and heart attacks. So, getting your teeth cleaned twice a year could indirectly prevent you from having a heart attack.
The dentist also detects abnormalities in your mouth during the routine cleaning. Many people have survived a cancer diagnosis after a dentist noticed anomalies while cleaning their teeth. Early diagnosis is critical when it comes to cancer treatment.
Another important reason dental cleaning is important is that it helps you maintain white teeth and a beautiful smile. Plaque and tartar discolor the teeth and may cause cavities and tooth loss.
Allowing cavities to grow in your mouth leaves you with yellowing teeth filled with holes. This is not an attractive look. Even worse, you may end up with gaps in your mouth if you lose any of your teeth due to extractions.
Oral hygienists conduct most dental cleanings. But smaller dental clinics have the dentist performing all dental procedures. If you have made an appointment with your dentist for a cleaning, you should be ushered into their or their hygienist’s office soon after you arrive.
If the dentist or hygienist had prior clients, you might end up waiting for a few minutes at the reception. You can also visit a dentist as a walk-in, and based on their availability, and they may be able to fit you in for a cleaning. If it’s your first time at a dentist’s office, the receptionist will ask you to fill in a patient form that will gather some basic information about you.
Once you get into the dentist’s or hygienist’s office, they will ask you to sit back on their dental chair while checking your dental history file. Next, they will ask questions about your oral health since they last saw you. They may ask if you are experiencing any pain, swelling, or bleeding.
You can also bring up any concerns you have about your teeth or mouth. The dentist or hygienist will then conduct a preliminary examination of your oral cavity and teeth. To see all corners of your mouth, they would insert a small mirror inside your mouth.
They will also use a probing tool to check for gum disease. During this examination, they check for any glaring oral health problems. In case the dentist identifies issues like cavities or gum disease, they may defer the cleaning to discuss the treatment options available to you.
Some treatments may be conducted before your cleaning procedure, and others may be done later. For instance, let’s say you have gum disease or cavities. The dentist may deal with that first and then give you another appointment for the cleaning.
The dentist will start the cleaning process by removing any plaque or tartar on your teeth and around the gum line. They use a tool called a periodontal scaler to do this. They are metal tools with a thin, curved tip that can reach between and around the corners of teeth. The dentist will also use the small mirror to see all corners of your teeth and remove hidden tartar.
Once they remove all the plaque and tartar that they can, the dentist will brush your teeth with a gentle abrasive toothpaste to polish your enamel. The paste will feel like soft sand in your mouth, but it tastes and smells like regular toothpaste. Your dentist may ask you to pick a flavor for the toothpaste so that you enjoy the taste during the polishing.
The brush used with the paste is a solid electric toothbrush that removes any remaining tartar on your teeth. Some people get terrified by the whirring noise caused by the toothbrush. But it should not be a cause for concern. The electric toothbrush must have a high-power capacity to remove tartar, hence the loud sound.
The dentist will then floss between all your teeth to remove any plaque, tartar, or leftover debris from the earlier cleaning process. While flossing your teeth, the dentist may identify if your gums have an issue like bleeding or swelling. After flossing, the hygienist will rinse your mouth with water to remove any debris or polish left in your mouth.
The dentist or hygienist will squirt some water into your mouth and then ask you to swish it around your mouth. Once done, they will ask you to spit the water into a sink located next to your chair. Or they may suck out the water using a suction tube. You may get an odd feeling while the water is sucked from your mouth, but the process is painless.
Finally, the dentist will give your teeth a fluoride treatment. The treatment is a paste or gel that the dentist injects in a mouthpiece covering your teeth. The fluoride sits on your teeth for a minute or so to thoroughly coat the enamel.
The dentist can also choose to paint your teeth with a fluoride varnish. The fluoride treatment remineralizes your teeth enamel to prevent tooth decay and cavities. After the fluoride treatment, your routine dental cleaning is complete.
The dentist will check your mouth once more to confirm that there aren’t any issues. If they find nothing, you will be free to leave their office. You may also have some questions about your oral health and hygiene.
This would be the best time to ask. Perhaps you have a question about how to maintain your teeth following the appointment. If you underwent a dental procedure other than cleaning, you might want to know about any aftercare practices.
A standard dental cleaning procedure will take about half an hour to an hour. If you get regular cleanings and your oral hygiene is excellent, then the process will take a shorter time. But if you have a lot of plaque and tartar buildup, the dentist will need more time to clean out your teeth.
If the dentists found other issues with your teeth that need treatment, your appointment could also last longer. For instance, the dentist may need to do a root canal or fill some cavities.
Sometimes, a dentist may need to take an x-ray to investigate the underlying causes of a dental complaint you may have. Or they may refer you to another specialist if you have a problem they can’t treat. All these procedures will take extra time.
At the end of your appointment, the dentist will ask you to book another cleaning appointment in six months. Dentists always tell their patients to get a routine cleaning at least twice a year for the best oral health. If the dentist noticed an issue during your cleaning, they might write you a prescription to treat the condition.
For instance, they may ask you to buy an antibacterial mouthwash that you need to gurgle to ward off infections. Or, if your gums bled during the cleaning, they could advise you to practice good oral hygiene or increase your vitamin intake.
The dentist may also recommend an annual dental x-ray to ensure that the roots of your teeth, gums, and bones are all in good condition. Another standard treatment that your dentist may recommend is molar sealants.
The back teeth have grooves that can hide food and plaque; hence they are prone to cavities. The sealants cover these grooves and prevent plaque from building up. If the dentist notices early signs of holes in your back teeth, they will ask you to seal them.
If the dentist finds a severe problem with your oral health, they will provide you with a treatment plan for the condition. You may have to revisit the dentist in a few days or weeks, depending on your situation.
Once you are done with the dental team, you will head back to the reception to pay for your bill. If you have insurance, the receptionist or accountant may ask you to sign some forms. Otherwise, you will swipe your card or pay cash.
Professional dental cleaning is a necessary procedure that helps prevent tooth decay and other severe oral diseases. Regular brushing and flossing of teeth help maintain oral health, But there is still a chance of developing tartar in hard-to-reach areas.
Dentists have specialized tools, chemicals, and technical know-how to get rid of tartar and stuck food particles. So, despite the perceived inconvenience, getting your teeth cleaned twice a year saves you from future pain and diseases.
If you have dental phobia, visiting a dentist twice a year sounds like a nightmare. It may help to shop around for a dentist that understands your fears and concerns. These dentists will talk you through each procedure and do their best to make your visit painless.
You may need to interview a few dentists before settling on one. In Ontario and need professional oral care, visit our dental team. For more information about different dental procedures, could you read the rest of our blog?
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