Dental Cleanings & Exams in Littleton

A bright and healthy smile is valuable, and few things can hurt it faster than plaque and tartar. The good news is that you can easily keep your smile looking great and working well with regular teeth cleanings. At Suncreek Dental Group, your local dentist, we believe that simple, routine care is the best defense for your mouth.

Why Professional Teeth Cleanings Are Necessary

You probably brush and floss every day, which is a great start. Proper oral hygiene at home is the foundation for a healthy mouth. However, brushing and flossing alone are usually not enough to maintain perfect dental health.

Even if you are diligent about home care, your teeth have small gaps and crevices where tiny food pieces and bacteria can hide. This sticky, almost invisible layer of bacteria is called plaque. If plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar, also known as calculus. Once tartar forms, you cannot remove it with a toothbrush or floss at home; only a professional cleaning can get it off your teeth.

That is why getting your teeth routinely cleaned by a dental professional is so important. Professional cleanings use special tools and techniques designed to reach the parts of your mouth that your toothbrush simply cannot, which helps to eliminate and prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar more effectively.

You should receive a professional teeth cleaning every six months if your gums and teeth are healthy. However, if you are experiencing an increased risk of gum disease (periodontal disease), tooth decay, or other oral problems, your dentist might recommend that you schedule cleanings more often, perhaps every 3 to 4 months.

What to Expect During a Dental Exam

When you come in for a checkup, your dental hygienist will perform a thorough dental exam. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends these visits at least twice a year. Regular exams and professional cleanings work together to ensure your mouth stays healthy and help support your overall physical health.

During the exam, your hygienist uses a small mirror to look closely at your teeth and gums for any signs of cavities, gum disease, or tooth decay, as well as any deposits of plaque or tartar. They will also examine your neck and head and perform an oral cancer screening, looking for any issues that could be a concern. X-rays are also a standard part of the checkup and can help detect issues you cannot see, such as bone loss, cysts, or abscesses affecting your gums or teeth.

If the hygienist discovers any issues during this process, they will discuss them with the dentist so a treatment plan can be created. If no problems are found, or once any immediate issues are noted, the cleaning process can begin.

The Professional Cleaning Procedure

A professional cleaning goes beyond what you can do at home, meticulously ridding your teeth of harmful plaque and tartar buildup. This is a critical step in preventing common oral health issues like tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Here is what happens during a typical cleaning:

1. Scaling: The hygienist starts by using a special tool called a periodontal scaler or curette. They gently scrape any hard mineral buildup from the surface of your teeth and near the gum line. This action breaks up hard plaque and tartar deposits, making them easier to remove.
2. Polishing: Once the majority of the hard plaque and tartar is removed, the hygienist uses a special gritty paste to further clean and polish the surface of your teeth. This paste contains abrasive compounds stronger than your store-bought toothpaste, which scrub away the smaller particles of debris and tartar.
3. Flossing and Rinsing: The hygienist will use floss to get deep between your teeth to eliminate any remaining debris before you rinse out your mouth.

You should not experience intense discomfort or pain during a routine teeth cleaning. After the cleaning, your teeth will be thoroughly polished, leaving you with a brighter, whiter, and smoother smile.

Types of Dental Cleanings

Not all cleanings are the same. The type of cleaning you receive depends entirely on the current health of your gums and the presence of any gum disease.

Regular/Preventative Cleaning

This is the standard six-month cleaning. It involves the hygienist eliminating stains, plaque, and tartar from your teeth using special tools and polishing them until they are smooth and sparkling. During a regular tooth cleaning, the hygienist focuses primarily on your teeth and above the gum line. For patients with healthy gums, this type of cleaning is recommended twice a year.

Gingivitis Cleaning

Gingivitis is the early sign of periodontal disease. It is often identified when bleeding and inflammation are present in the gums. A gingivitis cleaning removes plaque, stain, and deep tartar that has settled below the gum line. This procedure usually takes more time than a regular cleaning. The good news is that with this deep cleaning and consistent home care, gums can often return to a healthy state.

Deep Cleaning/Therapeutic Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)

Did you know that nearly half (42%) of all adults aged 30 years and older have periodontitis, with severe periodontitis affecting about 8% of adults? Periodontal disease is treatable but cannot be fully cured.

If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, your local dentist may recommend a deep cleaning, or gum therapy, known as scaling and root planing (SRP).

This is a non-surgical procedure. To make sure you are comfortable, a dental hygienist or dentist may use a topical or local numbing agent. During the treatment, we gently remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar that have attached themselves to the root structure and formed within the deeper periodontal pockets. After this therapy, the hygienist may use a special laser to decontaminate the pockets, zapping any remaining bacteria. This helps the tissue stabilize and begin to heal.

The primary goal of the SRP procedure is to reduce the inflammation and bleeding caused by bacteria and tartar while preventing further bone loss.

After you complete this gum therapy, you will be scheduled for periodontal maintenance cleanings every 3 to 4 months. These frequent visits involve professional cleanings and monitoring of your oral health to ensure the disease does not progress or return.

Benefits of a Professional Teeth Cleaning and Checkup

Making regular trips to your local dentist offers multiple benefits beyond just a clean mouth. These appointments are the start of better oral health.

The key benefits include:

• Oral Health Evaluation: Your dentist evaluates your overall oral health during the exam.
• Risk Detection: The exam helps detect possible health risks such as gum disease and oral cancer.
• Disease Prevention: Regular cleanings prevent serious issues like cavities, decay, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss.
• Habit Discussion: You can discuss your oral hygiene practices and habits with a professional to get tailored preventative tips, such as recommendations on the type of toothpaste or toothbrush to use, limiting certain foods or drinks, or quitting smoking.
• Jaw and Bite Check: Your dentist checks your jaw and bite for any potential issues.
• Aesthetics: You eliminate bad breath and maintain a brighter, whiter, and more polished smile.
• Physical Health: Maintaining good oral health helps maintain good physical health.

Preventive dental cleanings also cost far less money than more complex corrective dental procedures that you may need down the road, such as root canals or dental bridges. Because dental cleaning services are considered preventative care, most insurance programs will cover them. If you are unsure about what your plan covers, you should always check with your specific provider.

Schedule Your Next Visit

Better oral health starts with regular trips to your local dentist. Professional cleanings and checkups are your first and best line of defense against serious oral health issues. Call Suncreek Dental Group today at (303) 933-2522 to schedule your dental cleaning and checkup. We are excited to help you improve your oral health in Littleton, CO