Professional dental cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning is a preventive and aesthetic procedure. She solves 7 problems at once:
- prevents the development of caries and inflammatory diseases of the gums;
- makes teeth whiter;
- is carried out as a preparation for complex dental treatment (implantation, occlusion correction, prosthetics);
- adds self-confidence;
- reduces the risk of complications after complex dental treatment;
- removes dark marks from coffee, cigarettes and food colors;
- solves the problem of bad breath if it is caused by tartar.
During home cleaning of teeth, mineralized plaque remains on the teeth. You can only remove it with the help of professional tools and methods. Therefore, dental cleaning is a must-have procedure for anyone who wants to keep their teeth healthy.
How often should you clean?
Hygienic cleaning should be carried out daily in the morning and in the evening. Professionally, the procedure is carried out once every six months. This is enough to maintain the result. Additionally, cleaning may be needed before complex dental treatment or with the systematic use of coffee, smoking cigarettes.
Types and differences
There are various ways to perform professional teeth cleaning. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. The patient’s wishes are taken into account when choosing a technique, but the doctor makes the final decision, taking into account contraindications and the condition of the teeth.
Ultrasonic
The most effective way to remove hard deposits is ultrasonic cleaning. With its help, dental calculus is removed. For this, a special device is used: it can be built into the dental unit or made as a separate unit. This is an ultrasonic scaler.
There is a working nozzle on the tip of the device. Its tip vibrates with an ultrasonic frequency of 25-50 kHz. Additionally, water or an antiseptic solution is supplied to the nozzle. They enhance the cleansing effect due to cavitation – vibrations of water dipoles with the formation of bubbles. Excess fluid is removed with a saliva ejector.
Ultrasonic cleaning, if done correctly, does not damage the enamel. It allows you to remove not only tartar, but also bacteria due to the supply of an antiseptic solution and the bactericidal effect of cavitation. Supra- and subgingival deposits are also removed. The procedure is absolutely painless and comfortable.
Laser teeth cleaning
Cleaning your teeth with a laser is quick. The beam is directed to the surface of the teeth, due to which the water from the plaque evaporates. Residues are washed off with a water jet under pressure.
Cleaning your teeth with a laser requires expensive equipment. It is significantly higher in price than the others.
Sandblasting
Sandblasting teeth cleaning is carried out using the Air Flow apparatus. It is a modern and effective way to remove old plaque. For cleaning, you need an apparatus with attachments, a mixture with a fine abrasive and a fixing gel. Cleansing powders are produced with pleasant flavors, which makes the procedure more comfortable.
Hygiene with Air Flow is not suitable for removing calculus. But the device does an excellent job with old soft plaque. It does not damage the enamel, but should be used with caution in people with sensitive gums.
Dry cleaning
For professional hygiene, a special gel is applied to the teeth, which contains acid and hydrogen. The composition is kept for several minutes. Under the influence of chemicals, tartar is destroyed. Then it can be easily cleaned off with water.
The technique is painless and effective, but plaque cannot be removed in this way in the interdental spaces. Also, the composition adversely affects the gums, therefore, it is better not to use it for people with closely located vessels.
Mechanical teeth cleaning
The easiest method for professional dental hygiene. It is performed using dental instruments, highly active pastes and brushes. It takes longer than other cleaning methods. In this case, there is a risk of damage to the enamel. Therefore, the mechanical method is rarely used.
Fluoridation of teeth
After professional cleaning, fluoridation of the teeth is often carried out. It performs 4 functions:
- strengthens the enamel;
- reduces the sensitivity of the teeth;
- slows down the growth of bacteria;
- reduces the negative effect of an acidic environment.
For this, the surface of the teeth is covered with fluoride varnish. To do this, use a special brush or mouth guard with gel.
Contraindications to the procedure
As with any medical procedure, professional dental hygiene has contraindications:
- age under 18;
- inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity;
- foci of caries;
- bronchial hyperreactivity (in patients with asthma, allergies, obstructive bronchitis);
- severe thinning of the enamel layer;
- bruxism;
- some mental pathologies;
- chronic diseases in the acute phase;
- infectious pathologies;
- a large number of filled teeth;
- epilepsy;
- open form of tuberculosis;
- wearing braces and metal crowns.
Most contraindications are relative. The patient can be treated after recovery.
Possible complications
The patient can hide from the doctor the presence of contraindications to the procedure. This threatens him with consequences:
- thinning of the enamel;
- increased sensitivity of the teeth;
- damage to the gums;
- a feeling of suffocation against the background of bronchial hyperreactivity.
Complications after professional cleaning are reversible, but they cause a lot of unpleasant sensations. Therefore, it is better not to hide the presence of contraindications from the doctor.
At our dental office in Miami (Brickell Dental Care) we are happy to provide you 4 types of dental cleaning:
Prophy / regular cleaning ( by the way, if you have dental insurance (PPO Plan) in most cases this type of cleaning may be cover by your dental insurance)
Full Mouth Debridement – A full mouth debridement (FMD) is a nonsurgical procedure done by a dentist or dental specialist like a periodontist. An FMD helps remove extensive plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and under gums.
Periodontal cleaning (Perio)
When you go for periodontal maintenance, the hygienist will remove tartar just like with a regular cleaning. They’ll get in between your teeth and down to your gums. This is known as scaling and root planing. In addition, they’ll examine the pockets of your gums.
Scaling and root planing is the process of smoothing out the root surfaces of the teeth by removing hard calculus deposits and debris from below the gums. A licensed dental hygienist will perform the SRP using special hand instruments, an ultrasonic scaler, or a combination of both.
If the bacteria underneath the gums isn’t removed, it will continue to eat away the bone, tooth roots and ligaments. SRP or dental deep cleaning is necessary to remove the bacteria and prevent further damage.
Please feel free to call us if you are looking for a professional dental care/ good dental cleaning at (407) 989-9999