The dental cleaning is an important aspect in a good oral health foundation and mainly serves as a preventive measure to avoid disease or other dental problems. The American Dental Association and most dentists agree that visiting your dentist at least twice a year is good practice to maintain your dental health for your lifetime. .

Some people may need to visit their dentist more frequently if they have issues with excessive tartar build-up or have a history of gum disease. It is important to remember that good at-home dental care alone will not offset the effects of the buildup of plaque and tartar in your mouth. These harmful films must be professionally removed as they can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and other harmful health issues.

Most dental visits will consist of hand scaling by a dental hygienist or a dentist to remove plaque buildup. Plaque is the culmination of natural oral bacteria on food debris that remains on your teeth and gums and cannot be removed from brushing or flossing alone. Light or moderate plaque buildup can be removed with manual scaling tools of various shapes and sizes. After your cleaning your teeth will feel smooth and the sticky residue that inevitably forms over time will be eliminated. In addition to scaling your teeth will also be polished to remove the stains and give you a refreshed mouth and a brighter smile.

Besides the preventative measures described above to rid plaque on your teeth your dental visit will also help reveal any early signs of problems with your teeth or gums. Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable. If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available. In this sense preventative dentistry is cheaper than proactive dentistry or restorative dentistry in that oral health problems are detected early and can be taken care of easily.

If you have not visited your dentist recently consider getting scheduling an appointment with our office. Anxious patients will be glad to know that we offer sedation dentistry to help them get through the fears of their visit. Contact us today for more information 707-429-8611.