What To Expect During A Typical Dental Cleaning

A professional dental cleaning is a simple procedure which is routinely done twice a year. Rarely is the procedure painful, although patients with ultra-sensitive teeth may feel slight discomfort. Those that have missed a couple of cleanings may expect the hygienist to have to scrape a little harder to ensure all the built up plaque is removed. For the majority of patients, if anything, a visit to their South Loop dentist for a professional cleaning seems like an inconvenience, even though they know how important it is.
A typical dental cleaning takes on average, forty-five minutes. The bulk of the work is done by a dental hygienist, while the dentist will take over for a final look. Perhaps they will remove some of the more difficult plaque and then perform a general inspection of the teeth and gums. If the South Loop dentist has any particular concern he or she may take an X-Ray.
Rarely would a patient need pain medication when having their teeth cleaned, however, there are people who are frightened and quite nervous during any trip to the dentist. For these patients the dentist may elect to use nitrous oxide.
During the procedure, the dental hygienist has a variety of tools at his or her disposal. These tools include various scrapers and a tooth polisher. Scalers are shaped somewhat like a hook. They are used to lift off hard plaque on the surface and between the teeth. A typical buffer has various sized heads, used to remove little pieces of plaque and to give the teeth a final buffing. During the procedure, the hygienist will stop several times to rinse the mouth of plaque which has been removed.
During the cleaning process, the dentist will inquire about the way the patient goes about oral hygiene at home. If the dentist was faced with a considerable amount of plaque on the patient’s teeth, the patient may need to be reminded of the importance of brushing and flossing regularly. If the patient does care for his or her teeth properly and there is still a significant amount of plaque, this may indicate that more frequent cleanings are in order.
If during the teeth cleaning the dentist found any evidence of decay, further appointments will be scheduled.
It is highly recommended that you schedule an appointment with a South Loop dentist every six months for a professional cleaning. You are invited to contact the Art of Modern Dentistry to do so. Click the “Contact” tab to schedule your appointment today!