Teeth Cleaningin Whittier

In the sequence of treatment, a dental cleaning should follow a comprehensive oral evaluation to provide a clean environment for any dental treatments that are needed.  It would not be wise to place a dental filling or a crown on teeth full of plaque and tartars; therefore, a dental cleaning is best done right after a dental exam.

Dental cleaning is one the most important preventive treatments in dentistry. There are two different types of dental cleaning: Routine dental cleaning and Deep teeth cleaning.

When patients ask why their gum bleed when they brush or floss, the reason is that they do not floss regularly. When patients do not floss, their gum become inflamed from buildup of plaque, tartar and bacteria and this is known as gingivitis. A routine dental cleaning is recommended to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria from your teeth (above the gum) to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. A routine cleaning should be done every 6 months during the routine checkup to allow the dentist to detect any early signs of cavities and address the concerns as soon as possible to prevent the need for costly dental treatments.

During routine dental cleaning, the dentist uses a cavitron that vibrates at high frequency to break off any mineral, bacteria buildup and stains off the teeth above the gum. Afterwards, the teeth will be polished to further remove plaque and stains. Polishing makes teeth smoother, so plaque and bacteria are less likely to stick around. Cleaning should not cause any discomfort or pain. Patient may experience discomfort during a cleaning if the patient has “gingivitis” inflammation of the gum from lack of flossing. It is normal to experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after cleaning. If there is sensitivity, you can use SENSODYNE SENSITIVITY Toothpaste to decrease the sensitivity. Sensitivity to hot and cold usually go away in a few days. Avoid WHITENING TOOTHPASTE that can cause sensitivity.

A routine dental cleaning is recommended for patients that do not have gum disease. For patients with gum disease, a deep cleaning is recommended because this type of cleaning removes the buildup of plaque, tartar and bacteria below the gum on the surface of the roots.