If you’ve scheduled a dental cleaning in the past, you might be wondering what is in store during your visit. Having an understanding of the process from start to finish can help reduce any apprehension and give you confidence in the whole experience. It doesn’t matter if you are seeing a dentist near you for a regular dental cleaning appointment or visiting a dental clinic for the first time, since it is all intended to help maintain your oral health.
Why Is Oral Hygiene So Important?
Oral hygiene is not only for aesthetics to have a bright smile, but it is also important to help prevent potential problems from occurring. A professional cleaning can remove plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing at home miss. Not being engaged in proper hygiene care leads to risks of developing cavities, gum disease, and halitosis (bad breath). When visiting your dentist regularly, your dental team has the opportunity to catch subtle hints that can be bothersome before they worsen.
Step 1: Welcoming Hospitality and Check-In
Upon arriving at your dental clinic near you, the friendly front desk area will greet you and confirm that you’re there for an appointment. You will probably need to fill out or update a medical history form to better allow the dental hygienist to assess any health situations related to your dental care or health, like allergies, medications, or previous dental experiences.
Step 2: Initial Inspection
Before your cleaning, the dental hygienist will quickly look inside your mouth to visually assess your dental needs. The dental hygienist will use a small mouth mirror and investigate the health of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. They may take X-rays, if necessary, to get a view of areas that aren’t visible to the naked eye. This step helps to make sure that they know what areas to look at during your dental hygiene in Peterborough visit.
Step 3 :Removal of Plaque and Tartar (Scaling)
This step is just removing buildup. The hygienist will use special tools to gently scrape away the hardened tartar from your teeth and gumline. You may hear a scraping sound, but there is usually no pain. This will help to prevent gum disease, keeping your mouth healthier.
Step 4 – Deep Cleaning and Polishing
After the tartar is gone, the hygienist uses a high-powered electric toothbrush along with gritty toothpaste. In this step, they will polish your teeth. There will be gritty toothpaste used to remove any stains on the surface of your teeth and to make your teeth nice and smooth. The polishing paste that is used by the hygienist is completely safe for your enamel and helps to create a nice-looking smile.
Step 5 – Flossing Between the Teeth
This flossing is much more in-depth, even if you typically floss at home. The hygienist will carefully clean between each tooth to remove any plaque and debris that may be stuck there, as well as any areas that you may want to improve upon in your daily flossing.
Step 6 – Rinsing Away the Debris
You will rinse in order to wash off particles left from your previous flossing session. Some clinics will use a fluoride rinse in order to protect your teeth from cavities and any tooth decay.
Step 7: Fluoride Treatment (If Needed)
Your dental hygienist may even provide a fluoride treatment to your teeth to help strengthen and protect against decay. Fluoride is applied using gel, foam, or varnish. Fluoride is not applied for long durations; the dental hygienist will leave it on long enough for it to do its job.
Step 8: Dentist Final Examination
Once the cleaning is complete, the dentist will come in for a final examination. The dentist will check your teeth, gums, and mouth to ensure there is nothing to be concerned about. The dentist may also discuss some areas they are concerned about, provide better care tips from home or talk about follow-up treatments.
Step 9: Helpful Tips for Home Care
Before you leave, your dental hygienist will give you a few tips on ways to keep your teeth clean at home. They may recommend the proper toothbrush, toothpaste, and/or floss they recommend. They will also tell you how often they think you may like to make appointments for future cleanings based on your oral health needs and whether you require your oral hygiene to be performed on a regular basis by a practitioner.
How Often Do I Need to Get a Dental Hygiene Treatment?
Most work towards a visit at least every 6 months. Depending on you and your oral health needs, your time interval may be shorter. Regular visits will help prevent issues and help keep your nice smile looking good!
Protect Your Smile the Right Way
Maintaining your oral and dental health takes time and effort, but it is worth it. Just like any personal health care, from the time you arrive to when receiving those final tips, a dental hygiene near you is an easy way to secure your teeth, protect your mouth, and maintain your smile.
Take Your First Step To A Healthier Smile!
At Lotus Family Dental, our team works hard to make your dental hygiene visit as pleasant and efficient as possible, whether you’re coming to see us as a new patient or returning for a routine check with your dentist in Peterborough. Our dedication to you as our patient is shown through our care by treating you gently and carefully. Schedule an appointment so you can experience a cleaner, healthier smile.
