Cleanings

Dental cleaning is a preventive measure used to eliminate the microbial deposits from the teeth and tooth roots. We perform oral cleaning using an ultrasonic scaling appliance. It has a metal tip that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies, and when brought in contact with the tartar deposits, they would be dislodged and washed away.

Importance of Professional Oral Cleaning

Many individuals feel that brushing and flossing the teeth at home every day would suffice to maintain optimum oral health. But, this is only partially true. Routine oral hygiene should be combined with periodic oral cleaning sessions with the dentist, as we will screen your teeth for tartar deposits thoroughly and remove them. Brushing and flossing wouldn’t be able to get rid of these accumulations, as tartar is a sticky and hard-to-remove substance.

Tartar contains thousands of harmful microbes that release toxins when they feed on the food residues in the mouth. These toxins can erode the enamel by demineralizing it and decaying the soft tissues, such as gums. Fittingly enough, tartar is the leading cause of cavities and gum diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Removing these deposits helps you keep cavities, gum disease, and many other oral conditions at bay.

How is Oral Cleaning Carried Out?

The dentist will screen your teeth using dental instruments for a better view. Tartar deposits on various teeth surfaces will be spotted, and you will be prepared for the cleaning. The procedure is called scaling. Earlier, scaling was performed using a hook-like scalpel, where the dentist would manually scrape off the tartar deposits. But, the advancements in dental technology have brought about a more effective means to do this using ultrasonic instruments. The removed bacterial deposits would be washed away using a jet of water.

There could be microbial deposits on the tooth roots, which are often the cause of gum disease. They will be removed using a process called root planing. The dentist will insert the scaling tip between the gums and tooth roots and meticulously remove the tartar and food residues. Since the process can be painful, we will administer local anesthesia before commencing. We will also clear out the deep gum pockets and smoothen the surface imperfections on the tooth roots to keep bacteria from getting accumulated in them.

After completing the procedures, you may experience slight numbness in the gums, increased sensitivity in the teeth, and mild bleeding in rare cases. However, they would subside on their own in a day or two. It is crucial you follow the dentist’s instructions when it comes to aftercare.

We request you to schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts to get all your oral concerns addressed at the earliest. Please call us at (435) 713-0096 or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll be happy to help.