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Oral hygiene is part of your overall general health and well-being so dental cleaning should be scheduled as part of your regular health routine. A dental clean is designed to be a deep clean of all areas of your teeth and gums and the clearance of any build up of plaque with an aim of preventing gum disease. It is a straightforward, and slightly uncomfortable but highly rewarding free procedure and is usually performed each 6 months (six monthly check ups is what dentist recommend as good practice). The role of the dentist and the hygienist In all probability a dental clean is a procedure that your dental hygienist will carry out and the dentist will step in to perform the more technical aspects should these be required. The clean involves the use of special tools, For most, regular cleaning jobs the hygienist cleans between the individual teeth and cleans their surfaces to clear away any build up or coating and will remove small areas of plaque as long as it isn’t stubborn (unlikely if regular cleaning visits are made). Where plaque covers a greater area or is well adhered, the dentist will replace the hygienist. The dentist will also examine the general state of your mouth checking for signs of tooth decay or gum disease. If x-rays are required, this will be decided by the dentist but the hygienist will assist in them being taken. A regular clean should take about 30 minutes. Tools of the trade The implement most generally used is a polisher. This gently buffs the surface of the teeth and will remove some plaque. Polishers come with interchangeable heads that allow the cleaner to reach all surfaces of the teeth, including hard to get at places and in between to ensure 100% coverage. If areas of plaque require further attention then the dentist will employ a scraper known as a scaler. A scaler is like a metal hook and is designed to pry plaque from the tooth surface and is also fine enough to get between individual teeth. The last tool is the water spray. This deploys a shot of water into the mouth and washes away the cleaning debris to enable the dentist to see if all the plaque has been removed and also helps you as the patient rinse your mouth out. A dental clean is rarely painful and involves none of the tools that generally deter us from visiting the dentist so alongside a good, consistent brushing and flossing routine it is good practice and will ensure healthy teeth and gums. For more information about a Frisco dentist or a Plano cosmetic dentist, please go to http://www.starranchdental.com.
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