You happen to have a random conversation about visiting a family dentist. You most likely would end up talking about the visits a family member had to make when they had a root canal, an implant, or some other dental procedure. It is commonly known that regular brushing and flossing can protect your gums and teeth almost completely; but only almost. Due to its sensitive nature and proneness to diseases, the mouth needs more attention to hygiene than most parts of our body. This is where the process of professional dental cleaning comes up.
You have probably been advised to have a routine dental cleaning done every six months. And yet, even these routine check-ups come up mostly in case of vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, or people with various kinds of illnesses. And yet, even if you don’t belong to one of these groups and have ignored your routine dental cleaning, there’s a chance you might have to go for an advanced dental cleaning. There are some things about the two that you might want to know to get an idea what your family dentist could recommend next!
What are dental cleanings in the first place?
It is a fact not commonly known that brushing and flossing does not affect the bacteria and tartar build-up at all in some cases. A long-term situation of neglect for your gums could lead to gum diseases, ulcers, unexplained toothache, or cavities. These problems turn serious in no time at all: one day you would be chewing perfectly well, and the other day you could come to know that you’re in need of a crown or an implant!
This is where the necessity of regular dental cleaning procedures comes up. The idea is to visit your family dentist every six months for a routine dental check-up, so that you know that the whole house is keeping safe and if there are any dental practises you and your family should consider changing. The procedures followed during a routine dental cleaning can vary depending upon the condition of your teeth, but they mostly have to do with cleaning the teeth using specific equipment such as laser.
Routine cleaning is as important as brushing and flossing
Unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness regarding the importance of dental cleaning within the public domain, most people visit the dentist only when one of these problems have already occurred. In most of these cases, the first step that is taken is debridement. A thick, sticky layer of plaque builds up around the teeth which restricts proper inspection of teeth. The dentist first goes on to remove this layer so that a routine dental procedure can be followed.
The inspection involves checking for severe plaque build-up, bleeding, bone loss, or gum diseases. If none of these has happened, your family dentist or hygienist would go on to perform prophylaxis cleaning. It involves the removal of layers of plaque and calculus, and if the patient requests for it, then also tooth enamel polishing.
Why your family dentist might suggest an advanced dental cleaning
The need for advanced dental cleaning arises when something worrisome turns up in the inspection performed prior to cleaning. It’s also more commonly known as scaling, root planning, and deep cleaning. The term “deep” cleaning refers to the part of the procedure where the dentist cleans up accumulated tartar between gum pockets and spaces between the teeth. Moreover, advanced ultrasonic equipment comes is involved in the procedure alongside regular scaling equipment.
There is absolutely no need to be afraid of an advanced dental cleaning process! We recommend going only to the best family dentist you know of so that they can accurately prescribe local anaesthesia to calm you down and make sure you don’t feel any pain. Cleaning procedures are mostly pain-free, and it’s always a good idea to make sure you don’t miss your routine appointments and stay on top of your oral health!