Dental Cleaning in Southington, CT
Constant Dental Care
Keep Your Smile Healthy With A Dental Cleaning
A teeth cleaning is a procedure used to remove plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. A dentist or an oral hygienist can perform one. The process is simple and generally painless, as well as necessary to maintain a healthy smile.
Before a professional teeth cleaning starts, the hygienist will often perform a dental exam, which may involve an intra-oral/extra-oral cancer exam. They will use a small mirror to examine your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, bone loss, and other dental concerns. X-rays may be taken to help discover any problems not visible to the naked eye. If any problems arise, the hygienist will contact a dentist to ensure that it’s okay to proceed with cleaning.
The hygienist will start the cleaning by using a periodontal scaler or curette to scrape any hard mineral buildup (tartar) from the surface of your teeth. Plaque is a sticky and nearly invisible bacterial colony that feeds on food particles on the surface of your teeth. If neglected, plaque can not only produce toxins that inflame your gums and cause periodontal disease, but it can also harden into tartar, which can only be removed with professional teeth cleaning.
Once the majority of plaque and tartar is removed, your hygienist will clean between your teeth with floss, and use a prophylactic paste to clean the surface of your teeth further. This paste often smells and tastes similar to the store-bought toothpaste you use at home, but it contains abrasives that can help scrub smaller particles of plaque and tartar from your teeth. Next, to further eliminate any debris in your teeth, your hygienist will rinse out your mouth. This is done with a fluoride rinse to ensure the health of your teeth and gums.
Teeth cleanings should not be painful or discomforting if you’ve practiced good oral hygiene. However, those who have neglected their oral health might experience some sensitivity or discomfort during a dental cleaning. Your dental hygienist may be able to use a topical anesthetic or partially sedate you with nitrous for the process to reduce discomfort.
The Benefits Of Professional Dental Cleaning
Brushing and flossing at home are important steps to keeping your smile healthy. But, there are benefits to having your teeth professionally cleaned that simple brushing alone can’t achieve.
- A trained oral hygienist can give you a far brighter smile than even the most high-end commercial product you could get over-the-counter.
- Preventing gum disease at home isn’t always easy, especially with all the crevices around your teeth. A professional cleaning can get into all of those hard-to-reach places to eliminate plaque and tartar buildup.
- Thorough removal of food particles and cleaning of your entire mouth ensures that your breath stays fresher than it would with toothpaste and mouthwash alone.
- Neglected cavities and spots of tartar or plaque and cause bigger problems to develop over time, which eventually leads to tooth decay and loss. Professional dental cleaning easily prevents this from happening.
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and preventative dental cleaning costs far less money over the long term than more complex corrective dental procedures such as root canals.
How Long Does A Teeth Cleaning Take?
Depending on your circumstances, a professional dental cleaning can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Your hygienist will want to be thorough with your oral exam to ensure that no issues come up during your cleaning. They will also take time after your cleaning to explain further preventative measures you can take at home to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
How Often Should You Go For Dental Cleaning Treatment?
In general, professional cleaning is only needed twice a year if you regularly care for your teeth at home. If you don’t have any risk factors for periodontal disease, once a year may be enough. It’s best to talk to your dentist about how often you should have your teeth professionally cleaned.
Professional Teeth Cleaning Cost
The price of a professional dental cleaning depends on the kind of cleaning being performed. Routine tooth and gum cleaning can cost between $75 and $200, depending on the dentist’s office and local rates for cleaning. A full mouth deep cleaning that involves removing hard tartar deposits can cost between $500 and $4,000 depending on how deep the hygienist has to clean and whether antibiotic injections are necessary to speed healing in deep pockets around individual teeth. Often, the cost of the examination, fluoride treatments, or any X-rays performed isn’t factored into the cost of cleaning.
Because routine adult cleaning is considered preventative care, most insurance policies will cover biannual cleanings. However, they may not cover any cleanings beyond two per year. Deep cleanings are considered a more complex procedure outside regular cleaning and exams, and a dental insurance plan may only cover some of the dentist’s fees. Be sure to check your insurance policy and coverage before scheduling a cleaning.
Contact Us Today
Brushing and flossing your teeth at home is important to maintain good oral hygiene. However, it’s best to see a professional hygienist at least once a year to ensure the optimal health of your teeth and gums. A professional teeth cleaning can remove hard tartar buildup and prevent the onset of periodontal disease and tooth decay and give you fresh breath and a healthy smile. Please schedule an appointment with a dental hygienist near you as soon as possible, and give your teeth the cleaning they deserve.