Just as annual physicals are essential to your health and well-being, it’s important to visit Smiley Pearls for your twice-a-year dental cleanings. Preventive care helps lower the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and a host of health concerns, leaving you with a beautiful, bright, and healthy smile.
How Often Should You Schedule Dental Cleanings?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends scheduling dental exams and cleanings at intervals determined by your dentist. Most dental professionals will agree that patients with healthy teeth and gums typically require exams and cleanings once every six months. However, patients with gum disease or those at a higher risk of developing oral health problems may require more frequent care.
The Importance of Dental Cleanings
Even with the most meticulous brushing and flossing routine, cleaning the hard-to-reach areas between the teeth and the back of the mouth is not always possible. If not removed, plaque will harden to tartar, which can only be removed with the help of a dental professional.
Dental cleanings offer numerous benefits. Removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and around your gum line lowers the risk of gum disease, one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. It also reduces the risk of tooth decay and cavities, which, if not treated, can lead to severe pain, the need for extensive treatments, or even tooth loss.
Routine dental cleanings offer an excellent opportunity to detect any early signs of tooth problems, such as decay, gum disease, damaged restorations, or tooth fractures. Moreover, our hygienist will remove most surface stains, leaving you with a whiter, brighter smile.
Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning
Prophylaxis means prevention. During regular or prophylaxis cleanings, we will remove plaque and tartar buildup from between your teeth and around the gum line, then polish your teeth to remove surface stains. Depending on your unique needs, we may recommend a fluoride treatment to strengthen your tooth enamel.
Deep Cleaning
Most individuals who maintain proper oral hygiene practices at home and keep up with their routine professional dental care only need prophylaxis cleanings. However, patients with gum disease may require a deep cleaning procedure known as scaling and root planing.
Scaling is similar to regular professional dental cleanings and involves removing plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth and above and below the gum line. Next is root planing, during which we smooth out the tooth root surfaces to promote gum healing and reattachment to the teeth. Depending on your unique needs, scaling and root planing may require more than one visit to complete.
After scaling and root planing, patients typically require “periodontal maintenance” appointments every 3-4 months. During these visits, we will monitor your gum health and clean your teeth to keep the gum disease in check. It’s also critical that you maintain proper oral hygiene practices at home.
Dental Cleanings Near Me in Sachse, TX
At Smiley Pearls, we are proponents of prevention to maintain long-term healthy smiles. If you haven’t had a dental cleaning lately, contact us to schedule an appointment today. Our gentle approach to dental care and our inviting atmosphere will help you feel right at home. We invite you to visit our family-friendly practice to experience preventive care at its best.
Call our office at 469-729-8271 to schedule an appointment or request one online today. We look forward to caring for your smile.
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