Dental Cleaning Vancouver, WA

Dental cleanings are an essential part of maintaining oral health. During a dental cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. They will also polish the teeth and floss between the teeth. Dental cleanings are important because they remove the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Dental cleanings are necessary as they help to ensure that patients' teeth and gums are healthy. In addition, they are an essential part of one's overall oral care routine as these cleanings help to remove any plaque or tartar buildup that can lead to mouth problems, like tooth decay. There is also a connection between one's oral health and one's overall health.

When someone's teeth and gums are not in good health, their bad oral health can lead to their experiencing bad overall health, i.e., heart disease and diabetes. Cleanings can also help to remove any unsightly stains on the teeth, allowing one to feel proud to show off their smile.

How often are dental cleanings necessary?

It depends on each dental patient's particular oral needs as every patient is different. Some patients are more prone to having dental issues, making it necessary to see a dental professional more often. Other patients will experience hardly any dental problems at all, which means it is likely that they will need to have their teeth cleaned less frequently.

General guidelines state that patients should make an appointment for a professional dental cleaning every six months. While this is ideal for most people, some will need to come in every three months, and others will only need to go in every nine or 12 months.

What to do in between dental cleanings

Every dental patient needs to provide the good oral care they need to experience a healthy mouth. Therefore, it is necessary for every dental patient to thoroughly brush their teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day. They must also floss their teeth at least once a day. Using a quality mouthwash can also help keep harmful bacteria at bay and keep your breath fresh.

4 Types of Dental Cleanings

Did you know that you have thousands of naturally-occurring bacteria in your mouth that love to live on the surface of your teeth and share the same food you eat? Gross, isn't it? The good news is that you can remove excess bacteria from your teeth through regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings.

To prevent bacteria populations from growing and causing dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease, the American Dental Association advises individuals to visit their local dental practice once every six months for a dental exam and cleaning.

Dental exams will allow your general dentist to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, while professional teeth cleanings will remove excess plaque and tartar. Unfortunately, since bacteria live in dental plaque and tartar, this also releases large amounts of bacteria.

Depending on the amount of plaque and tartar on your teeth, your dentist will perform one of the following four types of dental cleanings:

Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning

The word prophylaxis means "to prevent disease." Therefore, prophylaxis dental cleanings are used to clean healthy teeth to prevent them from becoming affected by tooth decay or gum disease. Prophylaxis cleanings remove plaque and tartar from the front, back, and sides of teeth using a dental scaler or water stream. Most dental patients only require a prophylaxis cleaning, especially if they have kept up on daily dental hygiene and semi-annual dental appointments.

Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning

Scaling and root planing cleanings, also known as deep cleanings, are used on the teeth and gum pockets to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. Deep cleanings for gingivitis are usually completed in a single dental appointment. On the other hand, deep cleanings for periodontitis may require multiple licenses and local anesthetics depending on the severity. Scaling is the process that removes plaque and tartar from the tooth's surface and in the gum pockets below the gum line that form as a result of gum disease. Not only does this remove bacteria, but it also helps to reduce gum inflammation. Root planing is the process of smoothing the tooth roots, which allows the gums to reattach to teeth and eliminate gum pockets.

Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning

Periodontal maintenance cleanings are also dental cleanings designed to treat gum disease. Like scaling and root planing, they remove excess plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and gum pockets, then smooth out the roots if needed. The main thing that sets periodontal maintenance cleanings apart is that they are usually performed more often than other dental cleanings. This is because gum disease is progressive and will continue to get worse if not effectively treated.

Gross Debridement Cleaning

Gross debridement cleanings are the most heavy-duty of teeth cleanings designed to clean teeth with copious amounts of plaque and tartar. These cases are generally individuals that struggle to maintain an oral care routine or who have avoided the dentist for a significant amount of time. Since plaque hardens into tartar and large amounts of tartar are especially hard, the electrical tool is used to loosen tartar during gross debridement cleanings. Once the excess plaque and tartar have been removed, a prophylaxis cleaning is performed to clean the teeth further.

How Often Should You Have a Dental Cleaning?

Thinking it is about time for your next dental cleaning? Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is one of the more essential things you need to do to support good overall dental health.

A dental cleaning is part of an annual dental check-up, which needs to be made at least once, if not twice, a year. Even if you feel that your teeth are clean, a dental professional must perform a thorough examination to be sure, as the beginning stages of gum disease are often hard to detect.

At Cascade Dental, we recommend that patients have their teeth cleaned and examined every six months, especially if they struggle with gum disease. However, if you feel that your mouth is particularly clean and healthy, you may be able to get away with just one cleaning per year.

It is important to note that even if you are diligent about taking care of your teeth at home, you still need to have a professional dental cleaning. This is because some areas in your mouth are difficult to reach with a toothbrush or floss, and only a dental professional will be able to clean these areas effectively.

If you have any questions about how often you should be getting your teeth cleaned or if you would like to schedule a dental cleaning here at Cascade Dental, don't hesitate to get in touch with us today. We would be more than happy to help you ensure that your teeth are as healthy as possible!

Cascade Dental
16703 Southeast McGillivray Boulevard #100
(360) 342-9540
https://cascadedental.com/