Professional Dental Cleaning

Professional Dental CleaningA professional dental cleaning is a cleaning treatment performed to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. A professional dental cleaning is an important dental treatment for stopping the progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

A professional dental cleaning is an effective procedure in keeping the oral cavity in proper health and halting the progression of gum disease.

Why Are Professional Cleanings So Important?

The top two reasons adults lose teeth are cavities and gum disease, which is why, on top of a good dental hygiene routine, regular professional dental cleaning appointments are so crucial. Even the best daily brushing and flossing won’t get every bit of plaque between teeth and along the gum lines, and that plaque eventually hardens into tartar. Professional cleaning gets rid of all that tartar and keeps your teeth and gums on track to stay healthy.

Dental Cleanings With Your Dentist in Beckley Fight Gum Disease

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums characterized by gum irritation, redness, swelling, and sometimes bleeding. Symptoms of gingivitis are fairly mild and can even be painless. Visiting your dentist in Beckley regularly is important so gingivitis can be diagnosed, especially if symptoms are not obvious.

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal, or gum disease, and should be taken seriously. If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis, which can lead to receding and damaged gums as well as bone and tooth loss.

Cavities Are a Sign of Tooth Decay

A cavity is a small hole that develops on your tooth when it begins to decay. Harmful bacteria is contained in the plaque that sticks to our teeth. This bacteria produces acid that eats away at our teeth and causes cavities if the plaque is not removed. If left untreated, the cavity can grow larger and cause permanent damage to the tooth.

Letting cavities fester is more common than you think. Approximately 28% of adults are living with untreated cavities. Because cavities are so commonplace, some may think they can leave them untreated, either to save money or spare themselves a filling. It is important to remember, however, that a cavity is considered an infection that requires prompt treatment.

If cavity-causing bacteria is allowed to reach the dental pulp, it can lead to a condition known as pulpitis, or inflammation of the pulp. If treated quickly, pulpitis can be treated with a simple filling. If left to progress, more serious measures may need to be taken such as a root canal or tooth extraction. 

Regular dental cleanings will include an examination by your dentist in Beckley, so any existing tooth decay can be caught before it becomes a bigger problem and some problem areas might even be caught before they develop into cavities!

The Hygienist Cleaning Your Teeth

The hygienist uses a small metal tool called a scaler to scrape away any tartar in between the teeth and around the gumline. Then they’ll polish the teeth using a lightly abrasive paste and a polishing tool. This gives your teeth a nice, deep clean and removes any remaining tartar. They finish the cleaning off with flossing.

How Often Should I Come in for Cleanings?

In general, patients should schedule basic cleaning appointments twice a year, but it’s important to talk to Dr. Williams about your individual dental health needs. Patients with risk factors for developing gum disease may need more frequent cleanings, and diabetic patients often require as many as four cleanings per year to fight back against the attendant oral health difficulties.

The benefits include:

  • Plaque Removal – Tartar (also referred to as calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can result in serious periodontal problems. Unfortunately, even with a proper home brushing and flossing routine, it can be impossible to remove all debris, bacteria and deposits from gum pockets. The experienced eye of a dentist or hygienist using specialized dental equipment is necessary to catch potentially damaging buildup.
  • A Healthier Looking Smile – Stained and yellowed teeth can dramatically decrease the esthetics of a smile. A professional dental cleaning is an effective treatment in ridding the teeth of these unsightly stains.
  • Fresher Breath – Bad breath (or halitosis) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease. A combination of rotting food particles (possibly below the gum line) and potential gangrene stemming from gum infection, results in bad breath. The routine removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria at our facility can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce infection.

A professional dental cleaning can be performed at our office. We recommend that professional dental cleanings be performed twice annually as a preventative measure, but should be completed every 3-4 month for periodontitis sufferers. It should be noted that gum disease cannot be completely reversed, but a professional dental cleaning is one of the tools Dr. Williams can use to effectively halt its progression.

The bacterial plaque that builds up on our teeth will harden over time as the minerals in our saliva precipitate out.  The result is calculus, sometimes called “tartar”, a hard deposit that contains much of the same bacterial toxins as the plaque it was formed from.

Everyone builds up calculus.  Failure to remove the normal buildup from the teeth allows gingivitis and periodontitis (gum inflammation and infection) to occur. The only way to remove this calculus is with professional dental cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist.

A professional dental cleaning usually involves several steps.  First, we measure the depth of the periodontal “pockets” the space between the teeth and the gums.  Next we will remove the bulk of the material, often with ultrasonic  instruments that use a spray coolant.  We do the fine “scaling” and “root planing” with precise hand instruments.  Then we will polish the teeth to remain residual stain and protein film, and apply a special fluoride gel or foam to the freshly exposed surface.  This fluoride treatment helps to protect the teeth from decay and helps to prevent sensitivity.

Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.

Anthony J Williams DDS

5 out of 5 stars based on 2 Professional dental cleaning reviews.

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

I recommend Dr. Williams to all of my family and friends! Not only does my family receive excellent care once we are “in the chair”, it’s the process of getting there that is also great! From the office staff to the entire dental team, we have never been disappointed! Thank you for making us smile…

- Kim D

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I was very impressed with the entire staff. I will recommend them to all of my friends and family.

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