Professional dental cleaning and brushing your teeth are not
exactly the same things. Although brushing your teeth twice a day (one of them
is before bedtime) will clean most plague that contributes to tooth decay and
gum disease, overall dental care requires more than just brushing. Regular
dental visits are necessary as it gives the dentist the chance to monitor everything
inside the mouth including gum, tongue, palate, the inside of your cheeks, and
of course your teeth.
Regular dental cleanings
help the dentist recognize early signs of disease and treat them accordingly
before they get worse.
The general consensus is that you need to visit a dentist
regularly at least once every 3 to 6 months. Your dentist, in accordance to the
suggestion from
American
Dental Association (ADA), may determine different intervals
depending on
your dental health condition. Based on a current examination of your
oral health condition, the dentist will suggest a personalized visit
interval to treat your condition accordingly.
Regular dental cleaning has two main purposes: it treats
early signs of dental problems and prevents potential risks of diseases. During
a regular visit to the dentist you will receive the following
treatments:
1. Pre-Examination
Before the actual oral examination and dental cleaning
begin, a dentist will check for anything out of the ordinary in head and neck
area including face, lower jaw joints, and lymph nodes. Many indications of
oral diseases may appear in the aforementioned areas. In case a problem exists,
pre-examination helps a dentist to determine proper treatment before performing
further procedures.
2. Dental Examination
During a dental exam,
the dentist or hygienist will:
- Evaluate your overall health and
oral hygiene
- Evaluate your risk of tooth decay,
root decay, and gum or bone disease
- Evaluate your need for tooth
restoration or tooth replacement
- Check your bite and jaw for
problems
- Remove any stains or deposits on
your teeth
- Demonstrate proper cleaning
techniques for your teeth or dentures
- Assess your need for fluoride
- Take dental X-rays or, if
necessary, do other diagnostic procedures
The dentist or
hygienist will also ask about any health problems you have or medications
you're taking and discuss how they might affect your oral health. If you have
diabetes, for example, you're at increased risk of gum disease. If arthritis
interferes with your ability to effectively brush your teeth, your dentist or
hygienist might show you how to insert the handle of your toothbrush into a
rubber ball for easier use — or recommend a powered or electric toothbrush.
3. Dental Cleaning
Once the examinations have been performed, the actual
cleaning can start. The hygienist will help remove plague and tartar, floss
between your teeth, polish the teeth, and clean the gums too. At the end of the
routines, the dentist will review any dental appliances you have/use and make
recommendations concerning your dental hygiene. All in all, regular dental
cleanings are not merely about cleaning the teeth from
plague and tartar but also oral disease prevention and treatments.