Professional Teeth Cleanings
outine dental checkups and cleanings are a cornerstone of maintaining your smile and your overall health. At David C. Ashley DMD & Associates, we tailor your visit frequency to your specific dental needs, ensuring you always receive the right level of care.
Alongside brushing twice a day for two full minutes and flossing daily, visiting David C. Ashley DMD & Associates at least twice a year is vital to your wellness. The specific frequency of your visits will always be customized to your unique oral health needs.
Routine cleanings allow our team to:
Prevent major issues: Catch common problems like cavities and gum disease early, when they are much easier and less expensive to treat.
Personalize your care: Give you tailored tips for your at-home oral care routine and diet.
Answer your questions: Provide a dedicated time to discuss any aesthetic or health concerns you have about your smile.
Protect your overall health: Support your systemic wellness by keeping oral bacteria under control.
Ready for that fresh-smile feeling? Call our team today to schedule your next preventive visit!
What Is a Professional Teeth Cleaning?
Even with diligent brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into tartar (calculus) over time. A professional cleaning at our office is the only way to safely remove this stubborn buildup from your teeth and beneath your gumline.
What to Expect During Your Cleaning
While every smile is unique and your appointment will be customized to your individual needs, a standard professional teeth cleaning generally follows these comfortable, systematic steps:
1. Safe Removal of Plaque and Tartar
Our skilled hygienist or dentist will gently remove plaque and tartar from your teeth using specialized instruments. When plaque is left on the teeth for too long, it hardens into a mineralized deposit called tartar (calculus), which ordinary brushing cannot remove. For larger amounts of buildup, we may use an advanced ultrasonic scaler. This modern tool uses gentle sound waves to break up tartar quickly, minimizing the need for manual scraping and maximizing your comfort.
2. Professional Polishing
Next, we use a specialized dental polisher and a mildly abrasive paste to gently buff away surface stains and smooth the enamel of your teeth. This step leaves your teeth feeling remarkably clean and looking brighter.
3. Rinsing and Clearing Debris
Throughout the cleaning process, we routinely rinse your mouth with a small jet of water and use a quiet suction tool to clear away excess water, saliva, and dislodged particles. We may also use quick puffs of air to dry specific teeth, which helps us clearly visualize any remaining microscopic buildup or surface irregularities.
4. Flossing and Final Rinse
As a final touch, we meticulously floss between your teeth to remove any residual polishing paste and ensure the tight spaces between your teeth are perfectly clean.
5. Comprehensive Examination
Once your teeth are completely clean, the dentist will perform a thorough oral examination. We will carefully check your teeth, gums, tongue, and surrounding tissues to ensure your entire mouth is healthy.