The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Regular dental cleanings help reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as helping to remove enamel stains. No matter how often you brush your teeth or floss, there are areas in your mouth that you may not be able to reach. Schedule a consultation at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA to learn more about dental cleaning today.
A common misconception among patients is that cleaning their teeth every 6 months is enough to maintain good oral health. However, most people need professional cleaning every 3 or 4 months. According to the Canadian Dental Association, “7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some point in their lives.” This type of cleaning, which is used to treat gum disease, uses a dental scraper to clean the gum pockets as well as along the root of the tooth. Your dentist or dental hygienist will use special tools to scrape off persistent plaque from the hardest to reach areas of your mouth.
Pasha Javaheri Saatchi attended the Boston University School of Dental Medicine for four years and eventually returned to New York City for her one-year residency at Staten Island University Hospital. This is a complicated topic and may be due to inequities and barriers to health care, but it does mean that going to the dentist regularly affects your dental health and your overall health. Your dentist should work with you to provide a level of sedation that fits your anxiety and the length of your dental appointments. In these cases, your dental cleaning appointment will take longer and may last approximately one hour, depending on how extensive cleaning is required.
The difference between plaque and tartar is that tartar is a hardened plaque that can only be removed with a dental scraper. By sacrificing just one hour every six months, you can greatly reduce the risk of dental problems and keep your smile healthy. Because macroscopic debridement cleanings often require the use of anesthetics and highly specialized dental tools, they are generally performed over the course of several dental appointments. If you have dental insurance, one or two annual cleanings may be included per year and cost you nothing.
Unfortunately, many patients skip dental cleanings; many have busy lifestyles and worry that dental cleanings will take too long. However, regular professional cleanings are essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing serious dental problems in the future.