Dental Cleaning
A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning you receive from a dentist or dental hygienist.
Cleanings should be performed every six months to prevent excessive plaque buildup. Plaque left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay. A routine cleaning, or "prophy", consists of scaling, the removal of plaque and tarter from tooth surfaces, and polishing, which makes the surfaces of the teeth smooth. This helps to minimize future plaque buildup.
Dental hygienists have traditionally performed scaling by hand. However, advances in technology have led to more modern methods such as ultrasonic scalers. This sophisticated tool allows dental cleanings to be performed more efficiently and in less time. Both ultrasonic and manual scaling methods can be combined to achieve the best results.
At your appointment you and your dental hygienist will work together to determine which treatment method is best for you.
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