Dental Cleaning & Dental Check up
Dental cleaning is a routine dental practice, which is the basis of Preventive Dentistry.
It should be done about once a year, unless there is a dental problem (severe gingivitis or periodontitis).
Dental check-up refers to the clinical examination of each case as well as checking the soft tissues of the oral cavity (tongue, cheeks, palate) and gums (indication of bleeding, any incisions, etc.). It also includes keeping, updating and completing each new or old patient’s dental history, regarding any dental operation that has been performed. If any findings are made, they are recorded and evaluated.
After the clinical examination is completed, the teeth are cleaned.
The process of teeth cleaning
During dental cleaning (otherwise known as tooth scaling) the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) are removed from the teeth, with a special ultrasound device and, where necessary, special hand tools are used.
After removing all the “visible” tartar, ie at the height of the gums, the surface of the teeth is polished in order to remove any pigments and improve their appearance. The teeth are polished with special pastes and special brushes. Another painless method of polishing is Airflow stain removal, with which it is possible to remove even persistent stains, which cannot be removed with ultrasound or polishing pastes and the teeth become whiter and glossier.
Cleaning is the treatment of choice for gingivitis (gum disease).
In the case of gingivitis, the cleansing procedure – as described above – is performed by the dentist, does not require dental anesthesia and is completed in one visit.
In the case of periodontitis, in addition to the cleaning of the gums from tartar, the cleaning of the tooth roots (periodontal scraping) is required, which is performed by the periodontist and requires the administration of a local anesthetic. Usually, the procedure is not completed in one session.
Treatment of choice for periodontitis.
The cause of periodontitis is the accumulation of tartar at the roots of the teeth (not just at the height of the gums), due to poor oral hygiene.
In radical scraping, the periodontist uses an ultrasound device with special scrapers to deepen the gums and the part of the tooth below the gums. This cleansing inhibits the development of periodontitis and maintains the health of periodontal tissues. The treatment of periodontitis is usually completed in 2 or 4 sessions.
Periodontal diseases are serious diseases which, if not treated properly, can lead to tooth loss.
Regular visits to the dentist for the removal of tartar are important for maintaining the health of the gums and periodontal tissues and, in general, for the prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis.
The Dentist is the one who will determine the frequency of the cleaning (annual or on 6-month basis or even more often in some cases), as not everyone has the same needs or adheres to the same oral hygiene routine.
At the end of a cleaning visit to the dentist or periodontist, oral hygiene instructions are usually given: correct choice of toothbrush and its proper use, frequent and correct use of dental floss and interdental cleaning.
Dental cleaning is a painless procedure
This is a simple and painless dental procedure – lasting about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the deposits of tartar and plaque and in most cases the patient is not in pain. If the cleaning process is inconvenient or intolerable for the patient, the dentist will either apply an anesthetic gel to the area or administer a small dose of a local anesthetic to reduce the unwanted sensation.
Today, the dentist has the ability to reduce any pain or discomfort the patient might experience during the cleaning, so that the whole procedure is not unpleasant.
