According to the American Dental Association, you should schedule a visit to the dentist every six months. Many people dread these visits because of dental fear and anxiety, but others miss their regular dental cleanings simply because they don’t understand how this process benefits their oral health.
If you miss a dental cleaning with your Denver dentist, then plaque and tartar will build up, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Over time, your dental health will continue to decline, and you’ll develop worse dental problems that take more extensive procedures to correct. We want to help you avoid that! Schedule your dental cleaning today with our friendly staff at (303) 534-2626.
At Metropolitan Dental Care, our team will thoroughly clean your teeth using a simple six-step process to give you a healthy, beautiful smile. Here’s what happens at a dental cleaning:
Step 1: Physical Exam
One of our caring dental hygienists will begin the appointment by examining your entire mouth. Using a small mirror, she will check around the teeth and gums for signs of periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth decay, discoloration, plaque buildup, and other defects.
If any major problems are detected, the hygienist will discuss with the dentist about how to proceed.
Step 2: Removing Plaque and Tartar
Next, a scaler is used to gently remove plaque and tartar from in-between the teeth and around the gum line. Some people dislike the scraping sound, but your hygienist will do everything she can to make the process as comfortable as possible.
The more tartar you have, the longer the process takes. Fortunately, there are actions you can take at home to make this process go faster. Be consistent with good dental hygiene habits like brushing at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and using mouthwash. Combined, these will help fight off plaque buildup so there will be less to remove during your dental cleaning.
Step 3: Gritty Toothpaste Cleaning
Think of this step as exfoliation for your teeth. The consistency of the toothpaste paired with a high-powered electric toothbrush removes any tartar that is still holding on by gently scrubbing and polishing the teeth.
This process should be done twice a year, and only by a trained professional, so don’t try this at home!
Step 4: Professional Flossing
Flossing completed by an expert will be beneficial to you even if you floss regularly at home. A hygienist will be able to reach deep between your teeth to remove plaque from those hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.
Step 5: Rinsing
A fluoride rinse will rid your mouth of any remaining debris. Fluoride joins with the enamel to strengthen your teeth against cavities. To continue protecting your teeth, consider using a fluoride mouthwash at home.
Step 6: Applying Fluoride Treatment
Finally, your dental hygienist will offer a few flavors of fluoride gel for you to choose from and place the gel into a mouthpiece. This is placed over the teeth and left to sit for one minute. A varnish is also painted onto the teeth and left to harden. This treatment guards against tooth decay for several months.
Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Today
Ward off gum disease and tooth decay by calling our office at (303) 534-2626 to set up a dental cleaning. If you’ve missed out on several regular dental cleanings, ask us about receiving a deep dental cleaning during your next visit.
