It's recommended to go in for a cleaning once every six months. Even with careful brushing and flossing, mineralized plaque buildup is difficult to reach. Professional cleaning by a hygienist gets you to those hard to reach places, helping you maintain good oral hygiene.
How it's done
Normally cleanings, performed by a trained hygienist, last between 30 minutes and an hour. A dentist may come in for an exam after the cleaning. Most patients agree that dental cleanings are painless, and don’t cause discomfort.
Dental cleanings consist of two important steps. The first step, the hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces. Generally, the hygienist will also dig into the pockets of the gums, removing plaque buildup in those hard to reach places. This is known as, scaling the teeth, which can be performed by hand or electric scalers (depending upon hygienist’s preference.)
Step two of dental cleaning is polishing and buffing. Polishers come in different sizes and shapes, making it difficult for any leftover plaque to hide!
Dental Exams and X-Rays
Our Laurel MD dentist believes the importance of preventative care. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends checkups twice a year, where most problems can be caught in its early stages. These twice a year dental exams will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums, avoiding larger treatment plans in the future and their high costs!
How it's done
The dentist will visually examine your mouth using high intensity lights, mouth mirrors, and dental picks inspecting and performing things such as:
● Medical history review which assesses how new medical conditions may affect your dental health
● Tooth decay and cracked teeth
● Gum Disease evaluation checking for any sign of periodontal disease
● Oral cancer screening of the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums to make sure there aren't any signs of cancer
● Examination of existing restorations (i.e.: fillings and crowns) to assure they're in good order
You can also expect your dentist to take diagnostic x-rays to check for hidden problems, specifically in the areas below the gums. Every 12 months, bitewing x-rays are taken, while planographic x-rays (revolves around the head) are taken every 3-5 years.