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A dental cleaning is a procedure done by a dentist or dental hygienist to get into hard to reach areas of the gums and teeth in order to remove bacteria and food debris. Dental cleanings should be scheduled at least once per year, so that patients can have plaque and tartar scraped off of their teeth. Plaque is a hard substance that adheres to the surface of a tooth. Too much plaque and tartar can cause gum disease and problems with teeth. A dentist has special tools that can remove this plaque and tartar so that teeth are fresh and clean again. Because plaque and tartar buildup happen on a daily basis, patients should still brush and floss regularly.
During a dental cleaning the dentist will get inside the hard to reach areas and clean out the spaces in between the gums and teeth. If the patient is suffering from gum disease or early gum disease, a deep cleaning, periodontal scaling or root planing may be administered. In this procedure, the dentist gets into the flaps of gum under the tooth and into the pockets where bacteria can hide. A patient with pockets deeper than 4 mm is usually recommended to have a root planing or scaling. Patients with periodontal disease may need to have more than one cleaning per year.
A dental hygienist or dentist removes plaque, tartar, and food debris from hard-to-reach areas of the teeth and gums, including spaces between teeth and below the gumline.
Dental cleanings should be scheduled at least once a year for most patients, though patients with gum disease may need more frequent visits.
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on teeth daily from food and bacteria. If not removed through regular brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional.
Plaque and tartar build up daily in spots a toothbrush can't fully reach, like below the gumline and between teeth. Professional tools are needed to safely remove hardened tartar.
A deep cleaning, also called periodontal scaling or root planing, is a more thorough cleaning used for patients with gum disease. It targets bacteria hiding in the pockets and flaps of gum tissue below the tooth.
Patients with gum pockets deeper than 4mm are typically recommended for root planing or scaling rather than a standard cleaning, as this indicates early or active gum disease.
Yes. Excess plaque and tartar buildup is a leading cause of gum disease and other dental problems if not professionally removed on a regular basis.
Yes. Because plaque forms daily, regular brushing and flossing at home is still essential between professional cleanings to maintain good oral health.
Patients with periodontal disease often need more than one cleaning per year to manage bacteria and prevent the condition from progressing.
Alamance Family Dentistry offers dental cleanings for patients of all ages at 2960 Professional Park Drive in Burlington, NC. Call (336) 228-8159 to book your appointment.
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