What is Professional Teeth Cleaning and Its Procedure?

Most people associate teeth cleaning by a dentist with prodding, strange noises, and discomfort. As a result, they become apprehensive about routine dental exams and cleanings. Some even skip the appointments altogether. However, learning about each step of the procedure will ease your anxiety. Read on to learn all about teeth cleaning.

What is Professional Teeth Cleaning?

Growing up, you were taught to brush and floss every day to prevent decay, bad breath, and cavities. However, there are areas between teeth and along the gum line that is easy to miss. In addition, the toothbrush bristles or floss thread may be unable to access and clean the areas. Therefore, you need the assistance of a dentist to clean your mouth thoroughly.

Professional teeth cleaning is more thorough than cleaning your teeth at home. The dental hygienist uses special tools and products to clean the entire mouth. Cleaning also involves an examination of the mouth. It helps the dentist detect oral health issues before they worsen.

This simple procedure should be carried out at least twice yearly at a dental clinic near you. The process lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, but the first-ever session takes longer. Your dentist will provide a suitable sedative and anesthetic. They ensure you are comfortable and relaxed throughout the process.

Professional Teeth Cleaning Procedure

Here is the step-by-step procedure of professional teeth cleaning:

1. Examination

Our dentist in Edmonton begins the teeth cleaning process with a thorough physical exam of your mouth. They will use a small dental mirror to assess your teeth and gums for potential issues. These include gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, misaligned bites, enamel erosion, or damage. If the exams indicate oral health concerns, the dentist will perform further diagnosis.

Comprehensive diagnosis may involve dental x-rays and scans, plaque and tartar check, bite tests, and a gum depth test. The dentist will also examine your throat, neck, tongue, and face. This enables them to look for inflammation or signs of diseases such as oral cancer. Your dentist may proceed with the cleaning or recommend necessary treatments based on the diagnosis.

2. Eliminating Plaque and Tartar

The second step of teeth cleaning involves getting rid of plaque and tartar. Although routine brushing and flossing stop the accumulation and hardening of plaque, you may not reach all areas. The dentist will scrape out plaque and tartar from between your teeth. They also scrape out plaque from the tongue and around the gum line.

Eliminating plaque is essential for oral health and hygiene. If plaque accumulates, it hardens into tartar which only a dentist can remove. Tartar leads to bad mouth odor, gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, teeth staining, and other health issues.

3. Teeth Polishing

The dentist will use gritty toothpaste and a special high-powered toothbrush for this step. You will hear a grinding and whirring noise as the dentist removes the remaining tartar from your teeth. Do not be alarmed since tooth polishing is safe and effective. The gritty toothpaste in various flavors polishes your teeth thoroughly, leaving them plaque-free.

4. Professional Flossing

This step is similar to the flossing you do at home but more thorough. The dentist will focus on removing plaque from deep between the teeth and residual toothpaste. This procedure helps the dental expert know where gum bleeding occurs.

5. Rinsing

This step involves rinsing out your mouth to remove any debris. The dentist will squirt some water into your mouth and then request you to swish. They will use suction to remove the water. Some liquid fluoride may be used to rinse the mouth instead of water.

6. Fluoride Treatment

The final step of the teeth cleaning process is a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth and helps them fight against cavities. The dentist will put the fluoride, a sticky or foamy gel, onto a device that resembles a mouthguard. This device fits over teeth, and the dentist will leave it over them for a minute and then remove it.

Alternatively, the gel is applied directly to your teeth.  The dentist will paint fluoride varnish on your teeth using a tiny brush. This fluoride varnish hardens when it comes into contact with saliva.

Visit a Dentist Near You

Are you seeking a dental clinic near you for professional teeth cleaning in Edmonton? Contact us at Great Smile Family Dental for personalized professional teeth cleaning.