Tooth cleanings are dreaded by many people. It's easy to understand their trepidation given the poking, unusual noises, and occasional jaw soreness. However, for the majority of people, tooth cleaning is straightforward and painless.
Knowing exactly what's going on during
the procedure might help you relax and appreciate the minty-fresh results even
more.
A teeth cleaning is a 30- to 60-minute
treatment conducted by a dental hygienist or other dental experts to maintain
the gums and teeth clean. Many people are afraid of obtaining a cleaning or
even skip it completely due to dental anxiety and phobias, which can affect
their teeth and teeth cleaning cost. Patients who have a thorough idea of what
to expect when getting their teeth cleaned at a dentist's office might have a
less stressful encounter.
A dental hygienist is usually the one
who cleans your teeth. They begin by performing a physical examination of your
whole mouth before beginning the cleaning process.
The dental hygienist examines your teeth
and gums with a tiny mirror for symptoms of gingivitis (inflamed gums) or other
possible problems.
If severe issues are discovered, the
dental hygienist may contact the dentist to confirm that it is safe to proceed.
2. Plaque and tartar removal
The dental hygienist uses a scaler to
remove plaque and tartar from around your gum line and in between your teeth,
guided by the little mirror. You'll hear scratching, but that's to be expected.
The more tartar in your mouth, the longer it will take to scrape a certain
area.
Plaques are prevented from forming and
hardening into tartar by brushing and flossing. Tartar may only be removed at
your dentist's office once it has formed. If this is your least favorite
aspect of the teeth-cleaning routine, the lesson is to brush and floss more
frequently.
3. Cleaning with a grittier toothpaste
The hygienist washes your teeth with a
high-powered electric brush when they are entirely tartar-free.
It produces a grinding sound While it
may appear frightening, it is a fantastic method to obtain a thorough cleaning
and eliminate any tartar left behind by the scaler.
Professional cleanings employ toothpaste
that smells and tastes like conventional toothpaste, with the option of
selecting from a variety of flavors. It does, however, have a gritty texture
that softly washes your teeth. This tooth polishing is considered safe to
undertake twice a year if done by an expert. At home, though, don't be as rough
with your teeth because you'll wear down the enamel.
4. Professional flossing
Nothing beats a professional flossing
session, whether you floss at home or not. Your dental hygienist can look deep
between your teeth for any possible issue locations where your gums may bleed.
If you floss at home, this may seem superfluous,
but having a professional floss your teeth eliminates any residual plaque or
toothpaste from the cleaning procedure.
5. Rinse
After that, you rinse your mouth to
remove any particles. Your dental hygienist will most likely offer you a liquid
fluoride rinse.
6. Using fluoride as a therapy
A fluoride treatment is a final stage
in the cleansing procedure. This treatment is applied to your teeth as a
preventative measure to help you avoid cavities for several months.
Your dental hygienist may inquire about
your favorite taste. The frothy gel (or occasionally a sticky substance) will
next be placed in a mouthpiece that fits over your teeth. It's normally left on
for one minute on your teeth. Fluoride varnish is applied to the teeth using a
little brush in addition to the foamy gel. When fluoride varnish comes into
touch with saliva, it hardens, allowing you to eat and drink right away.
Other options for action
X-rays are usually done once a year, whereas professional teeth
cleanings are done twice a year. Other exams may be performed during your
appointment, depending on what your dentist or dental hygienist sees in your
mouth. A dentist may propose molar sealants for youngsters to help prevent
cavities in difficult-to-brush places.
Whether you need any further actions or not, the most important
thing is to maintain regular visits to the dentist for regular cleanings to
avoid issues in the first place. You'll feel more at ease — and maybe even look
forward to these appointments — if you know what's going on ahead of time.
The method for cleaning your teeth
While the specific cleaning treatments utilized may differ from
one practice to the next, the majority of dental hygienists follow a similar
regimen.
Examination of the teeth and gums
Before starting the cleaning, the hygienist checks the patient's mouth for any indicators of oral disorders, such as swollen gums, plaque and tartar accumulation, or dark patches on the teeth, using a tiny concave mirror. This allows the hygienist to focus on specific areas during the cleaning. If more significant problems are discovered, like tooth cavities or gum disease, the hygienist usually contacts the dentist, who will do a more complete examination.
Scaling
The hygienist removes plaque and tartar off the surface of
the teeth, around the gum line, and in between the teeth with a little hooked
instrument called a scaler. A manual or ultrasonic scaler is employed,
depending on how much accumulation is there. A manual scaler scrapes the teeth,
but an ultrasonic scaler removes big deposits with mild vibration and water.
Flossing and polishing
The hygienist next uses a portable electric instrument with a
rubber prophy cup connected with a gritty toothpaste called prophylaxis paste
to polish the teeth and remove any stains. During this stage of the procedure,
patients should expect to feel a slow grinding action on their teeth. After
that, the hygienist flosses the patient's teeth to remove any leftover plaque
or paste.
Fluoride
Fluoride treatment is sometimes included in the teeth cleaning process at some dental facilities. Patients are frequently given the option of selecting their preferred taste of fluoride gel. After that, the gel is put inside a mouthpiece, which the patient must wear for about a minute.
Is a dental cleaning painful?
While most people only suffer little discomfort and
agony when having their teeth cleaned, there are a few conditions that might
make the procedure more painful:
Inflammation, gum disease, or tooth decay can cause
dental sensitivity.
Cleanings are spaced out over a long length of time.
Temporomandibular disorders cause jaw discomfort.
Any discomfort should be communicated to the
hygienist. To relieve discomfort, the hygienist may allow the patient to take a
break or attempt an alternative procedure.
Conclusion
While a teeth cleaning may feel intrusive and
unpleasant to some people, typical dental conditions such as gum disease or
tooth decay may be far more painful and necessitate even more dental work in
the long term. Brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis can help
prevent plaque and tartar from forming on your teeth. However, professional
cleaning twice a year is required for complete removal.
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