Most people understand how the American Dental Association recommends professional teeth cleaning on at least a bi-yearly basis, and you probably have fond memories of how great your teeth feel after our awesome hygienists provide both restorative and preventative care.
Teeth cleaning is absolutely essential for decreasing the overall likelihood of serious dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay, and every teeth cleaning appointment will thoroughly remove excess bacteria and plaque from your mouth that your normal hygiene routine simply can’t get rid of.
Most dental patients in Staten Island understand the overall importance of dental cleaning; however, it’s normal for people to not know about the different types of dental cleanings that are available to them.
That’s why we’ve created this article to delve deeper into what teeth cleaning is, and the common options that Dr. Cipriano will opt for!
Teeth cleaning involves the routine removal of tartar, plaque and tooth stains that tend to develop above and below a patient’s gumline. Teeth cleaning is vital for preventing gum disease, cavities, and all sorts of common oral health complications.
Not only will our team be able to preemptively detect lingering issues early on through teeth cleaning appointments, but we’ll also be able to stop these issues from seriously impacting your long-term oral health.
It’s normal for tartar to develop on a patient’s teeth over the course of a few months, and this hardened plaque simply can’t be removed by flossing, brushing, or using mouthwash on a daily basis.
Professional-grade equipment is simply necessary for eliminating tartar buildup, and depending upon the amount of plaque on your teeth and your unique oral health status, Dr. Cipriano will choose one of the following teeth cleaning methods:
Prophylaxis teeth cleaning is the most common type of appointment that patients receive, and it’s a preventative dental cleaning that’s aimed to remove excess tartar and plaque development.
When you come into our office for a prophylaxis cleaning, your hygienist will utilize a dental scaler to carefully remove plaque from along all angles of your teeth. It’s also important to note that there are different types of dental scalers, including both metal scalers and scalers that use a continuous water stream.
Once your hygienist is done using the scaler, they’ll brush your teeth with a gritty toothpaste. You’ll then have your teeth thoroughly flossed and rinsed.
The final step of a prophylaxis teeth cleaning appointment is applying a topical fluoride treatment, which will help prevent future plaque buildup and strengthen your tooth enamel.
This teeth cleaning method is often utilized when a patient is experiencing receding gums, which entails the gums pulling away from teeth and slightly exposing tooth roots.
As the name of the teeth cleaning suggests, this type of appointment is a two-step process. The first step is known as scaling, which is somewhat similar to a regular prophylaxis cleaning. The main difference with scaling is that the patient’s tooth roots are also scaled to remove excess tartar and plaque.
The next step is called root planing, which entails smoothing out a patient’s tooth roots and encouraging their gums to reattach themselves more normally.
Periodontal maintenance refers to teeth cleaning appointments for patients who are currently suffering from gum disease. When gum disease isn’t cured or carefully mitigated, it tends to get much worse with time and lead to serious oral health dilemmas.
Scaling and root planing strategies are a significant part of periodontal maintenance, and the general idea here is to slow down gum disease progression as safely as possible.
And depending upon the severity of a patient’s symptoms, these cleanings may be scheduled more frequently than every six months.
Debridement cleanings are essentially heavy-duty teeth cleaning appointments that are only performed on a rare basis.
Most patients in Staten Island that need dental debridement have excessive plaque and tartar accumulation between their teeth and in their gums. These appointments are usually necessary when someone either has poor oral hygiene, or when a patient hasn’t received a teeth cleaning appointment in a long time.
What’s unique about debridement cleanings is that they utilize a specialized electric tool that loosens and removes tartar. Once the hygienist is done using the electric tool, they’ll then conduct a prophylaxis cleaning to remove even more plaque.
In certain scenarios, dental anesthetics might be necessary; however, there are various levels of debridement cleanings depending upon a patient’s unique oral health.
Are you due for your next teeth cleaning appointment with a renowned dentist? Do you live in the Staten Island area?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you’ve come to the perfect dental practice website.
Welcome to Healthy Smiles of Staten Island, an award-winning provider of general, cosmetic and restorative dental care for the entire Staten Island community.
We’re headed by Dr. Joseph Cipriano, a distinguished dentist who’s supported thousands of local patients with his compassionate approach and industry expertise. We have over 600 5-star Google reviews for a reason, and our team is here to support you and your entire family with a wide array of dental services.
Reach out to us online or give us a call at 718-948-1600 to schedule your next teeth cleaning appointment with Dr. Cipriano today!
