Teeth Cleaning

Professional teeth cleanings are generally scheduled two times a year, while X-rays are normally done only once a year.

A basic dental teeth cleaning is a simple and painless process most of the time. It generally doesn’t take more than 30-45 minutes.

These are the steps to getting your teeth professionally cleaned by one of our dental hygienists.

Quick Exam

• We start with a physical exam of your entire mouth. The dental hygienist checks around your teeth and gums for any signs of gingivitis (inflamed gums) or other potential concerns with a small mirror.

Removing Plaque and Tartar

• The dental hygienist then uses a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line, as well as in between your teeth. It is normal to hear a bit of scraping. Brushing and flossing stops plaque from building up and hardening into tartar. Tartar can only be properly removed at your dentist office.

Gritty Toothpaste Cleaning

• Next, we brush your teeth with a high-powered electric brush. This is a great way to get a deep clean and remove any tartar left behind from the scaler.

Expert Flossing

• Nothing beats an expert flossing session. Your dental hygienist can get deep between your teeth and locate any potential trouble spots where you might bleed at the gums.

Rinsing

• You will then rinse out your mouth to get rid of any debris.

Applying Fluoride Treatment

• The last step of the cleaning process is usually a fluoride treatment. This treatment is used as a protectant for your teeth to help fight against cavities until your next visit.