No matter how well we brush and floss our teeth, there are always hard-to-reach areas. A dental cleaning can help you get your teeth really clean.
Dentists recommend undergoing a dental cleaning performed by a professional once or twice a year, the difference in time lies in the amount of plaque or tartar accumulated in patients, this accumulation can happen for various factors, such as: the bad position of the teeth, their maxillofacial morphology, their hygiene habits, the correct execution of the brushing technique or even the pH of their saliva.
It is one of the simplest of the many interventions performed in dentistry and yet the most important, since it is where the prevention of any other ailment begins.
Its objective is to eliminate bacterial plaque and tartar accumulated on the teeth, between them and the gingival line. It is simple, but it requires a thorough revision of the interdental spaces, below the gum line and the possible mobility of the pieces to correctly diagnose the type of cleaning that will be necessary.
There are several types of cleanings, but the most common are these:
The first type of dental cleaning is the hygiene with rotating brushes. This is a type of cleaning through which the tensions caused by the coloring agents of the diet or daily habits are eliminated. It consists of cleaning the hard tissues of the oral cavity, the teeth, with a prophylaxis brush that rotates at a suitable speed with a special prophylaxis paste in order to eliminate the particles that cause staining and leave the enamel free of impurities and free to prevent or delay staining by the coloring agents. This type of cleaning is commonly called prophylaxis.
*food- or tobacco-induced stains
The second type is performed when there is a supragingival calculus (tartar) (above the gum line), which means that there is already a calcification of bacterial plaque. This treatment is called tartrectomy, but the colloquial name for this procedure is dental cleaning. This procedure can be performed manually, by curettes, or ultrasonically, by means of an ultrasonic device (our favorite!) and the most common nowadays is to use this way. Thanks to the vibration of the tip of the ultrasonic device and irrigation with water, it makes the calculus porous and the vibration detaches and removes tartar from the tooth surface in a more comfortable and faster way compared to manual scaling with curettes. This removes the supra and infra gingival calculus (if desired) avoiding periodontal problems.
Another type is periodontal maintenance. It is a cleaning a little deeper than the previous one, but similar. This type of treatment is performed when the patient has periodontal disease, but in a controlled manner, generally cleaning is performed by arches or sectors in different sessions to have the opportunity to detail thoroughly between teeth, at the gum line and below it also, rarely is necessary to place anesthesia to carry them out and generally also performed with the ultrasonic device, but with special tips that help us to deepen without causing discomfort. Thanks to this procedure, periodontal disease is kept at bay and prevented from progressing.
Periodontal treatment can be classified as another type of dental cleaning. This procedure is performed in cases where there is an accumulation of subgingival calculus with active periodontal disease. Its main objective is to remove all the calculus under the gum, which is responsible for periodontal disease. Periodontal treatment is performed by means of appropriate hand instruments and the ultrasonic device, which can also be performed by arches or sectors.
Good oral hygiene at home, through a good tooth brushing technique and interdental cleaning (with dental floss and/or interproximal brushes) is essential to maintain good oral health and avoid performing the latter types of dental cleaning. In addition to this, regular dental check-ups with the appropriate controls will ensure that your oral health is excellent.
In summary, to maintain proper oral health, it is recommended to have your teeth cleaned every six to twelve months.
The objective of dental cleaning is:
- Remove dentobacterial plaque that accumulates on the teeth.
- Remove dental calculus or tartar.
- Remove stains caused by smoking, eating or drinking.
- Combat halitosis or bad breath.
- Prevent cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis.
Sometimes special care is recommended to patients such as:
- Use of mouthwashes
- More frequent cleanings (every 3-4 months).
- Deep cleaning, the latter in case of periodontal disease.
- Special pressurized water irrigation devices.
And keep in mind: every time you attend your routine cleaning, you provide an opportunity for the specialist to monitor the overall health of your teeth, gums and bone, turning this visit into a general oral health check-up visit.
Schedule your appointment at Makeover for your routine cleaning and we can help you to have bacteria free teeth, advise you on the best home care for you, as well as help you to implement an ideal brushing technique. Do not hesitate to call us and contact us and we will be happy to help you at makeoverdentalstudio@hotmail.com or call us at MX 664-634-2023 / EU (619) 202-0423.