Most people know what a teeth cleaning feels like. You sit back, the hygienist checks your gums, removes buildup, polishes your teeth, and you leave feeling noticeably cleaner.
What is less obvious is what is actually being removed and why some patients are told they need something more than a regular cleaning.
At Oasis Dental Arts in Carmel Mountain, San Diego, Dr. Ramin Goshtasbi and his team check the health of your teeth and gums before recommending treatment. For many patients, a routine dental cleaning is all that is needed. If there are signs of gum disease, the recommendation may be different.
What Does a Regular Teeth Cleaning Remove?
Plaque develops on your teeth every day. Brushing and flossing remove much of it, but there are areas almost everyone misses from time to time.
If plaque sits on the teeth long enough, it can harden into tartar, or calculus. Once that happens, your toothbrush is not going to remove it.
That is where a professional cleaning comes in.
A regular cleaning, sometimes called a dental prophylaxis or “prophy,” removes plaque, tartar, and some surface stains from the teeth. It is generally recommended when the gums are healthy and there are no signs that periodontal disease has developed below the gumline.
Even someone who is very good about brushing and flossing can still develop tartar. Some people simply build it up faster than others.
What Happens During the Appointment?
Your hygienist will usually begin by looking at your gums and checking for areas that need attention. Plaque and tartar are then removed from around the teeth and gumline.
You may notice that some areas take longer than others. If there is very little buildup, the cleaning can move quickly. If tartar has collected behind the lower front teeth or in another hard-to-reach spot, that area may need more work.
The hygienist may use hand instruments, an ultrasonic scaler, or both. The ultrasonic scaler uses vibration and water to loosen deposits from the teeth.
Afterward, the teeth are usually polished to remove some remaining plaque and surface staining.
If your visit also includes a dental exam, Dr. Goshtasbi can check for changes in your teeth, gums, fillings, crowns, or other dental work.
X-rays are not automatically needed at every cleaning. They are taken when the dentist needs information that cannot be seen during the exam. Your dental history, symptoms, age, and risk for cavities or gum disease can all affect when they are recommended.
Do You Really Need a Cleaning Every Six Months?
Six months is common, but it is not a rule that works for everyone.
One patient may come back after six months with very little tartar. Another may have quite a bit of buildup in the same amount of time.
Your gum health matters too. So can dry mouth, certain medications, previous dental problems, and how easy it is for you to clean certain areas at home.
This is why the schedule should be based on what is happening in your mouth rather than simply picking the same interval for every patient.
Routine exams and cleanings are part of the general dentistry care offered at Oasis Dental Arts.
If You Brush and Floss, Why Isn’t That Enough?
Brushing and flossing are still the most important things you do between dental visits, but they have limits.
Plaque is soft enough to remove at home. Tartar is not.
Once plaque hardens into calculus, professional instruments are needed to get it off the tooth.
There is also another reason we like to see patients regularly. Dental problems do not always hurt when they first begin. A cleaning and exam gives the dental team a chance to notice changes before you may be aware of them yourself.
Patients who want to learn more about preventing problems before they become more involved can also read about preventive dentistry.
Why Would a Dentist Recommend a Deep Cleaning?
This is where patients sometimes get confused.
A regular cleaning and a deep cleaning may sound like two versions of the same appointment, but they are used for different situations.
A routine cleaning removes buildup from the teeth when the gums are generally healthy.
A deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, is used when gum disease has created deeper spaces between the teeth and gums. Plaque and tartar can collect farther down the tooth and onto the root surface.
A regular cleaning cannot reach those areas well enough to treat the problem.
Deep cleaning may be completed in more than one visit, depending on how much of the mouth needs treatment. Local anesthetic may also be used to keep the area comfortable.
How Do We Know Which Type of Cleaning You Need?
We look at what is actually happening around the teeth.
Bleeding gums can be one clue. So can swelling, gum recession, tartar below the gumline, or deeper periodontal pockets.
Your hygienist may take pocket measurements around the teeth. These measurements help show whether the gums are staying close to the tooth or whether deeper spaces have developed.
X-rays can provide more information when there is concern about the bone supporting the teeth.
If gum disease is present, Oasis Dental Arts offers gum disease treatment based on what is found during the exam.
If someone tells you that you need periodontal treatment, you should feel comfortable asking why. Ask to see the pocket measurements. Ask where the tartar is located. If bone changes are visible on an X-ray, ask the dentist to show you.
You should understand what is being treated before you agree to treatment.
Can You Ask for a Regular Cleaning Instead?
You can always ask questions about a treatment recommendation. What you do not want is a regular cleaning that leaves the actual problem untreated.
If your gums are healthy, a regular cleaning may be exactly what you need.
If periodontal pockets have formed and tartar has moved below the gumline, cleaning only the visible portion of the teeth does not address those areas.
We have written about this question before because it comes up often. You can read more about why a regular teeth cleaning may not be appropriate when a deep cleaning has been recommended.
If you are unsure about the recommendation, ask what the dentist or hygienist found. A good explanation should make it clear why one type of cleaning is being recommended over another.
Does a Regular Teeth Cleaning Hurt?
Most people feel pressure, scraping, vibration, or water during a routine cleaning rather than significant discomfort.
Tender gums can make some areas more sensitive. So can heavier tartar buildup or teeth that react strongly to cold.
Tell your hygienist if one tooth has been bothering you or if you already know that your teeth are sensitive. The same goes for dental anxiety. That information helps the team know which areas may need more care during the appointment.
How Long Does a Teeth Cleaning Take?
Cleaning time varies from one person to another.
Someone who comes in regularly and has little tartar may need less time than a person returning after a long gap. An exam, X-rays, or other preventive treatments can also extend the visit.
First appointments sometimes take longer because the dental team needs to review your history and establish a starting point for future care.
If you have not been to the dentist for several years, there is no need to decide beforehand whether you need a regular or deep cleaning. An exam can answer that.
Will a Cleaning Make Your Teeth Whiter?
A professional cleaning can remove some stains on the outside of the teeth, so they may look cleaner or brighter afterward.
It does not bleach the natural tooth color.
Coffee, tea, tobacco, and certain foods can leave surface stains that polishing may reduce. Discoloration within the tooth usually will not change much from a routine cleaning.
If tooth color is still a concern afterward, you can discuss whitening or other cosmetic options once the health of the teeth and gums has been checked.
What Happens If You Put Off Teeth Cleanings?
Plaque continues to collect between dental visits. Missed areas can eventually harden into tartar, which is harder to keep clean and cannot be removed with a toothbrush.
How quickly that happens differs from one person to another.
A long break from dental care also means fewer opportunities to check changes in the teeth and gums.
Missing an appointment does not mean you automatically need a deep cleaning. If it has been a while, start with an exam and find out what your mouth needs now.
Regular Teeth Cleaning in Carmel Mountain, San Diego
Oasis Dental Arts provides cleanings, dental exams, preventive care, and gum disease treatment from its Carmel Mountain office in San Diego.
Dr. Ramin Goshtasbi and the team can examine your gum health first and determine which type of cleaning fits what they find.
Oasis Dental Arts is located at 11835 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 1306, San Diego, CA 92128. The office can be reached at (858) 271-1010.
If you are due for a regular teeth cleaning or returning after some time away from the dentist, schedule an appointment to get a clear picture of your current oral health.
