What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

Dental Cleaning And Examinations Kennewick, WA

Wondering what happens when getting a dental cleaning? Preventive dentistry is important when it comes to caring for one's teeth in order to keep them healthy. One form of preventive dentistry includes routine dental cleanings.

About dental cleanings

Many people who have never undergone a professional dental cleaning want to know what to expect. This way, they are more likely to feel comfortable when undergoing the process. Dental cleanings not only help keep teeth clean to prevent gum disease, but they also allow one's teeth to feel smoother and look brighter.

What happens during dental cleanings

Here is what dental patients can expect to happen while undergoing a professional dental cleaning.

Oral examination

Before a patient undergoes the actual process of having their teeth professionally cleaned, they will need to undergo an examination of their mouth. This is necessary in order to look for any oral problems that may be taking place. Examples include swollen gums, dark spots on the teeth and a buildup of plaque. This examination is necessary because it helps the dental professional be aware of any additional areas they need to focus on.

Scraping

After the examination has been completed, the dental professional will then use special dental tools in order to scrape away any plaque or tartar buildup from the surface of the teeth. How much buildup a patient has will determine how long it will take to remove all the plaque from their teeth. The scraping process does not cause any pain and is an essential part of every routine dental cleaning.

Polishing

Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed from the surfaces of the patient's teeth, the teeth are then professionally polished. Polishing the teeth not only helps smooth the teeth out, but it also helps get rid of any harmful bacteria and any extrinsic stains that are present. Because there are different types of tooth polishing services available, such as therapeutic polishing, patients can ask their dentist what type of tooth polishing that they use.

Patients may also be in need of fluoride treatment, which helps protect the teeth from decay. Since decay leads to cavities, undergoing fluoride treatments helps reduce a patient's chances of getting cavities.

Bottom line

When someone is in need of a dental cleaning and knows what to expect, they likely will feel comfortable while undergoing the process and will be sure to make routine cleaning appointments on a regular basis. A dental cleaning typically only takes between 30 and 60 minutes to perform. For patients who experience any level of dental anxiety, it is important for them to let their dental professional know so they can better treat them.

Request an appointment here: https://www.gledhilldental.com or call Gledhill Dental at (509) 800-8410 for an appointment in our Kennewick office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Cleaning in Kennewick, WA.

 

Related Posts

Why A Dental Check-up And Cleaning Is Important

A dental check-up and cleaning is an essential part of taking care of your teeth. It can help prevent the onset of many oral diseases while also helping to improve your smile's appearance. After all, you only get one set of natural adult teeth, so it's up to you to properly take care of them.…

Why A Dentist Recommends Regular Dental Cleanings

Even though regular dental cleanings are important for oral health, many people fail to prioritize them. A recent National Health Interview Survey revealed that more than 30% of American adults have not had a dental checkup in over one year, even though the American Dental Association recommends seeing a dentist at least once every six…

5 Things A Dental Cleaning Does For You

It is a known fact that routine dental cleaning is an important part of oral health. The American Dental Association recommends that people with an overall healthy mouth visit a dentist for a regular checkup and cleaning once every six months. Those with specific dental issues or certain underlying health conditions may need to schedule…

How Often Are Dental Checkups Needed

Going in for a dental checkup might not be at the top of your priority list, but it should be. There could be many reasons why you have not been to the dentist’s office for a year or longer. Life can get busy, or you may have fears or anxieties about these visits. Whatever has…

Related Posts

How Teeth Whitening May Improve Your Smile

How Teeth Whitening May Improve Your Smile

Teeth whitening treatments are an effective way to improve the color of your teeth significantly. These treatments consist of using chemicals with bleaching properties like hydrogen carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from the inner and outer layers of teeth.The types of stains teeth whitening treatments are effective on include the yellow stains teeth…

Oral Hygiene Basics: Bad Habits To Avoid

Oral Hygiene Basics: Bad Habits To Avoid

Having a firm understanding of oral hygiene basics can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and general oral discomfort. Human beings go through life developing a range of habits that impact oral health, some of which are good and some of which are bad. Avoiding these damaging behaviors promotes strong teeth and gums that can last…