Dental cleaning appointment are necessary for both the prevention of diseases as well as the education of the patients.
The typical dental cleaning appointment includes instructions on how to properly floss and brush, teeth polishing,supra gingival scaling in order to remove the tartar and plaque that is present on all of the visible areas of the teeth, and if needed, the removal of tartar present beneath the gum line.
What is Hand and Ultrasonic Scaling Procedure?
Plaque consists of the buildup of bacteria which is found in food debris and remains on the teeth and the gums, both in crevices and on the surface. When combined with the minerals that are naturally present in saliva, the plaque forms a hard compound known as calculus or tartar, which serves to attract additional plaque. Dental professionals need to remove this calculus in order to prevent conditions such as periodontal disease.
Calculus removal needs to be undertaken by a dentist or licensed dental hygienist via manual scaling or an ultrasonic device. The ultrasonic scaler is usually used when the stains and tartar are more widespread and particularly heavy. After the device is used, the dentist may use manual scaling as well in order to further smooth the root and tooth surfaces.
Patients are recommended to receive dental cleaning appointments regularly in order to prevent dental disease and/or diagnose these conditions early so treatment can be sought. The dentist or hygienist will recommend a cleaning every 2 to 6 months regardless of the number of visits which the insurance will cover. The frequency of the visits will depend on several factors and is determined on a patient-by-patient basis. Some individuals build more tartar than other patients and some may also be more susceptible to inflammation or tooth decay as well. Patients who do not practice adequate oral hygiene will need more cleanings in order to prevent the onset of periodontitis.
