Have you ever wondered what really happens during your dental cleaning? While most patients view these routine visits as simple maintenance, professional dental cleanings involve much more than just surface-cleaning your teeth.

Professional dental cleanings are actually more comprehensive procedures than you may realize. These appointments serve as both preventive care and diagnostic opportunities for your dentist to monitor your oral health.

What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning

A professional dental cleaning is a thorough cleaning performed during your bi-annual check-up by a dental hygienist or dentist. On top of deep cleaning, your treatment will include polishing smooth tooth surfaces and often a fluoride treatment to strengthen your enamel.

Your standard dental cleaning can typically take just 30 to 60 minutes and involves several specialized techniques to remove plaque, tartar, and stains that regular brushing cannot. In addition to these basics, your cleaning appointment involves so much more than you might consider.

1. Professional Cleaning is Far More Thorough than Home Cleaning

Even with excellent brushing and flossing habits, you cannot completely remove bacterial biofilm at home. Tartar and plaque buildup form in hard-to-reach areas between your teeth and along your gumline. A toothbrush and floss are your first line of defense, but they cannot compare to a professional cleaning.

Professional tools and techniques are specifically designed to attack and remove this dangerous biofilm, even in hard-to-reach areas. This thorough cleaning gives your daily home care routine a fresh start each time.

2. Detects Early Dental Issues and Saves You Money

At your check-up and cleaning, your dental team is scrutinizing your mouth for any signs that something is amiss. During your visit, we check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancers, among many other medical issues, that you may not notice.

Early detection means faster and more effective treatment. The sooner you learn about these dental health issues, the more likely you are to avoid more invasive and costly treatments.

3. Professional Cleanings Can Extend the Life of Dental Restorations

Regular professional cleanings help maintain and extend the life of your dental work, including fillings, crowns, and bridges. Plaque and bacteria can accumulate around the edges of restorations, leading to decay underneath or around these areas.

We pay special attention to cleaning around existing dental work, using appropriate instruments and techniques that won’t damage the materials. This careful maintenance can help your restorations last for their expected lifespan and prevent the need for premature replacement.

4. It Can Detect Early Signs of Serious Health Conditions

Professional dental cleaning provides an opportunity for early detection of health issues that extend far beyond your mouth. During your cleaning, we examine your gums, tongue, throat, and surrounding tissues as well as ask questions about your oral health, which can be connected in many ways to your overall health, including issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Your professional dental team is trained to recognize early warning signs of these conditions, including:

• Persistent bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• White or red patches on your tongue or gums
• Unusual swelling or lumps in your mouth or neck

This detailed exam makes your cleaning appointment an important component of your health monitoring, just like your annual physical.

5. Your Dentist is More like Your PCP than a Specialist

Speaking of your annual physical, while you may think of a dentist like a doctor with a specialty, we are more like your general physician in many ways. A dentist certainly does specialize in oral health. What you may not realize is that your oral health is important enough to warrant regular check-ups, not just a visit when something goes wrong.

We encourage you to think of your dentist as your PCP for your oral health. While you may visit a medical specialist only for a specific condition, you should make sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year, regardless of whether anything is “wrong.”

It’s Time to Book Your Next Dental Appointment

Your professional dental cleaning is an investment in both your health. Book your next cleaning and dental check-up today!