Dental Cleaning

A dental cleaning or prophylaxis is a professional cleaning you receive from a dental hygienist. Most dental cleanings take between 30 and 60 minutes.  Cleanings should be performed at least every six months to prevent excessive plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque left untreated can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.  A routine dental cleaning should include scaling and polishing.

Scaling:

This is the process of removing plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces in a variety of methods depending on the amount of plaque and tartar.
Dental hygienists traditionally perform scaling by hand.  However, new and advanced technology has lead to more modern methods such as the ultrasonic.  The ultrasonic scaler allows dental cleanings to be performed more efficiently and in less time. To achieve best results, both ultrasonic and manual scaling methods are combined for dental cleanings.

Polishing:

There are two kinds of polishing: air polishing and rubber cup polishing. Air polishing (or prophy jet) works by spraying high-pressured water mixed with baking soda powder onto the surface of your teeth. This powered water washes away residue and plaque while baking soda removes stains. Rubber cup polishing uses a low-speed and gentle hand piece that contains a polishing paste made of abrasive ingredients to remove plaque and stain.