If you think that brushing your teeth at home is enough, you are mistaken. Brushing and flossing should be supplemented by dental cleaning which can only be performed by a professional dentist or oral hygienist. Dental cleaning is recommended every six months for whiter, healthier teeth and gums.
Dental cleaning is technically known by dentists as oral prophylaxis or prophy for short. It is a Greek word which means to prevent, as its purpose is to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases from happening. People who already have gum diseases are advised to visit their dentist for cleaning every three to four months.
Dentists use specialized instruments in removing plaque and tartar without harming the teeth and gums. These instruments are either ultrasonic, which use high frequency sound waves to knock larger pieces of tartar, or fine hand tools for smaller particles lodged in between the teeth. Most instruments are usually curved and by no means sharp. This feature prevents damage to the teeth and gums. These implements are used during the three stages of cleaning namely: scaling, root planning, and polishing.
Traditional scaling is performed by a
dentist in Lakeland Fl dental clinics. Ultrasonic scaling only removes about 50 percent of total tartar buildup. That is why dentists perform traditional hand scaling after ultrasonic scaling. Best results in dental cleaning can be achieved by the combination of manual and electric scaling.
Root planning or pocket cleaning is also performed to treat moderate to advanced gum diseases. Once inflamed, gum pockets become deeper. When gum inflammation occurs frequently, gum pockets may lose bone connections. Deep gum pockets increase the chances of plaque buildup which in turn worsens gum condition. A
dentist lakeland medical facilities have may use local anesthesia to minimize discomfort when cleaning plaque buildup.
Polishing is the last stage of cleaning which involves rubbing of the surface of the teeth. Polishing comes in two kinds namely prophy jet cleaning and rubber tip polishing. The first one is done by spraying high pressured water mixed with baking soda while the second uses a low speed hand piece with a rubber tip containing abrasive ingredients to remove stains. A
dentist in Lakeland Fl may also use fluoride to strengthen teeth after cleaning.
