A teeth cleaning will help you to preserve your teeth and gums. Plaque that is left untreated can lead to varying , tooth decay, cavities, and more. Our goal during a cleaning is remove all that has built up and check for any developing oral issues.
Regular cleanings can also allow you to avoid the cost and discomfort of extensive dental restorations like fillings, root canal therapy, or tooth extractions. Remember to maintain a daily oral hygiene routine at home to ensure your cleanings are straightforward and larger issues are more readily prevented.
Schedule a dental cleaning every 6 months!
What You Can Expect During Your Cleaning
Generally, a routine dental cleaning can last about one hour and will usually include gentle scaling and polishing. One of our hygienists will start by performing a preliminary examination of your mouth using a small mirror to make sure there are no obvious oral health issues. If they spot something, they’ll notify one of our dentists before continuing.
Next, our hygienist will use a scaler to carefully remove any plaque or hardened tartar present on your teeth and gums. They will gently work in between teeth and around the gumline. It is normal to hear scraping during this stage as hardened tartar requires more than one pass to clean away.
With tartar gone, our hygienist will move on to the polishing portion of the cleaning. They’ll use a high-powered electric brush paired with a gritty toothpaste to get rid of anything left behind from the previous stage. A professional flossing session and a quick rinse will then follow the polish and round out the appointment.
For more information about your next cleaning, check out this blog >>> What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?
Make An Appointment
At Precision Family Dental, our Grand Rapids, MI, dentists are dedicated to helping patients achieve their best smiles. If you need to schedule a professional teeth cleaning or have questions for our staff, please feel free to request an appointment online or call our office directly at (616) 949-1570.