Our teeth are one of the most important assets we have. The old adage, “you’ll miss them when they’re gone,” is never more true than when talking about our pearly whites. Find out more about the best dental cleaning New York!
Oral health is a vital part of our overall wellness in terms of maintaining healthy gums, cavity-free teeth, self-esteem, and good digestive function – so taking care of them is the biggest gift you can give yourself.
While we all understand the need to brush and floss religiously, you should also commit to regular professional dental cleaning. New York dentists have the skills, equipment, and technology to get into those hard-to-reach places and rid your mouth of plaque, bacteria, and tartar. In addition, it gives them a chance to keep an eye out for damage occurring from tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer and a range of other issues.
Nothing Beats a Professional Dental Cleaning
No matter how diligent you are about your teeth, you simply don’t have the ability to do a proper deep and thorough clean at home. Your dentist will use a range of tools and instruments that help loosen soft deposits (calculus) and hard deposits (plaque), in a process called scaling and polish your teeth. You’ll never be able to replicate the benefits of a professional job yourself.
If you think investing in professional tooth cleaning is something you either don’t need, or can’t afford, then think again– because the truth is you do, and you really can’t afford not to!
Note: The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends six-monthly professional dental cleaning. New York dentists agree!
Here’s What you Need to Know
You may wonder how much you really need (or want!) to know about dental cleaning. New York dentists say that the more familiar you are with any dental procedure, the less stress you’ll experience on the day, so we’ve put together a post to let you know exactly what to expect.
The Initial Consultation
A good dentist never simply rushes in. Your medical and dental history will be reviewed, as well as recording of your blood pressure and checking on your general health. Next, X-rays may be taken to discover any abnormalities, cavities, loose fillings, and a range of other potential issues. Depending on your personal situation, at this stage the dentist may also take measurements of your gums and mouth to determine the risk of periodontal disease.
The point is, your oral care and treatment should never be a one size fits all situation – even with a relatively quick and easy dental cleaning. New York’s finest dentists at Smile Arts are renowned for their caring, professional, and transparent approach to patient consultation.
What is “Dental Cleaning”?
With that in mind, depending on your individual situation (and what they find in terms of tartar and plaque deposits), your dentist may suggest one of several kinds of cleaning.
Prophylaxis: If you pay good attention to your own oral care and keep up regular visits to your dentist, you may just need this as preventative treatment to reduce the chance of developing gum disease, decay and cavities in the future. Using a high-powered ultrasonic scaler, the dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the front and back of your teeth and gums.
Root Planing and Scaling: For patients suffering from swollen or inflamed gums (gingivitis) and more serious gum infections, scaling and root planing will be undertaken. Scaling removes tartar and plaque from the teeth and deep into gum pockets, while root planing smooths out the roots, which reduces the risk of gum pockets forming.
Periodontal maintenance: People who are already suffering from some form of gum disease may undergo this cleaning, which removes plaque and tartar from teeth and gum pockets by scaling and, if needed, root planing (see above). It needs to be done much more regularly than normal, in order to get on top of the gum disease.
Note: Periodontal disease (aka gum disease) has serious ramifications for your health and has been linked to heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
What Tools Are Used?
When performing a professional dental cleaning, New York’s best dentists use a number of key tools.
Mirror: A mirror is usually made of metal or fiberglass and is invaluable for seeing into every nook and cranny of the mouth, behind teeth and to gum tissue at the rear. The reflective surface (which is usually rhodium-plated) has magnification to assist.
Ultrasonic scaler: An ultrasonic scaler uses water and high-frequency vibrations to loosen up build-up of plaque and tartar between the teeth.
Hand-held scaler: These are generally double ended, with a blunt end and a sharp point to help dislodge particles between the teeth. Used in conjunction with the ultrasonic scaler.
Polisher: This is a rotary tool with a rubber tip that sprays abrasive powder, water and air, then the dentist buffs the teeth until they are smooth and polished. (Polishing also deters further plaque and tartar build-ups.)
The Procedure
After the initial consultation (and X-rays if required), your mouth will be examined thoroughly. It’s at this stage if any potentially serious issues are discovered your dentist may need to discuss an alternative or additional course of action.
All being well, your dentist will then begin.
- They will start with the ultrasonic, which will loosen plaque, stains and tartar from your teeth and gums. This will take longer the more plaque and tartar there is.
- Next, the handheld scaler is used to ensure any stubborn plaque and/or tartar is removed.
- Finally, using a special abrasive toothpaste, the dentist will polish your teeth perfectly, and then follow up with a professional floss.
- You’ll be asked to rinse your mouth thoroughly, then the job is done!
Will it Hurt?
Typically it will not, but it depends on the amount of plaque and tartar individual patients have. If the dentist has to be a little vigorous in the scaling part of the process, your gums may bleed a little and be swollen for a few days. It shouldn’t be anything too serious, though.
If you suffer from sensitive teeth, the dentist may use desensitizing agents like fluoride treatments, or even a local anesthetic. They can be used at any time during the treatment.
How Long Will it Take?
The duration of your treatment will depend on the condition of your teeth and the work that needs doing, but generally you should expect it to take between 30 minutes and an hour. If you have X-rays, it may take a little longer, and if your dentist encounters any issues with your oral health they may want to discuss them with you before proceeding.
Get in touch and enjoy complete peace of mind!
You really should consider regular dental visits a non-negotiable part of your overall health care. Here at SmileArts of NY, we’re known for our kind, caring and professional service, and we look forward to seeing you in our clean, modern offices. When it comes to professional dental cleaning, New York based SmileArts has a wonderful team of dentists who will walk you through the procedure and allay any trepidation or nervousness you may have. Get in touch with us today!
