Enjoy A Healthier Smile With Professional Cleanings
Regular professional dental cleanings are an essential part of maintaining optimal oral health, even if brushing and flossing are done regularly. A series of recent studies on oral hygiene has found that an unhealthy mouth directly contributes to our body's health issues in general.
Professional cleanings from your dental hygienist helps you form consistent healthy habits by removing stubborn plaque and tarter buildup that cannot be removed by brushing alone. Your dental hygienist will evaluate any potential problems with your teeth and gums before every cleaning, and this will greatly assist in the prevention of bacteria, gum disease, and tooth decay. As experts in patient education, your hygienist will also give you the information you want and need to keep your teeth healthy at home.
Tools that ensure a great professional cleaning experience:
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Care at home – practice good oral hygiene at home by brushing twice per day and flossing daily to ensure a fast and easy professional cleaning.
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Ultrasonic tools – we utilize ultrasonic tools to avoid excessive scraping and discomfort.
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Numbing gel – for sensitive teeth and gums, apply a topical numbing gel before your appointment!
How a Prophylaxis is Done
Teeth cleanings are often performed by either Dr. Chang or by a dental hygienist — a highly trained technician who uses a special set of tools designed just for this purpose. Because everyone's teeth are a little different, your cleaning will be tailored to your particular needs. However, many cleanings follow a similar pattern.
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First, the dental hygienist will do an oral examination to evaluate the health of your oral tissues. Then the cleaning will take place using either an ultrasonic scaler or metal instruments referred to as curettes to remove the plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces. The ultrasonic scaler is a hand-held tool with a tiny tip that vibrates at a very high frequency. Hardened deposits are broken up by the rapid movement of the tip, which does not damage the tooth. A constant stream of liquid (called lavage) serves to cool the tip and aid in plaque removal; at the same time, it also washes away the debris.
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Some hygienists prefer curettes, which are hand-held instruments that are curved and tapered to fit around and in between the teeth. If your teeth are sensitive, using hand-held instruments may be more comfortable for a professional cleaning. In the capable hands of a hygienist or dentist, it takes only moderate pressure to remove any stubborn buildup and scrub the teeth clean, regardless of which instruments are used.
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Finally, your teeth are polished with a low-speed rotary brush fitted with a soft rubber tip. A slightly gritty, toothpaste-like gel is applied, and the tip spins around and polishes the teeth, making them smooth and shiny.
Dental Cleanings in Phoenix, AZ
Dental Cleanings should be performed regularly. This type of regular maintenance will help you avoid more involved dental procedures down the road — and it will give you the best chance of keeping your teeth for life!