At Opal Dental Group, we teach our patients to take good care of their teeth and gums at home with brushing and flossing. While this care is vital to good oral health, scheduling routine professional teeth cleaning appointments at our office is just as important to safeguarding your oral and general health by maintaining a beautifully clean smile.
We welcome you to continue reading to learn more about professional teeth cleanings and to book your next teeth cleaning today with Opal Dental Group.
Also called dental prophylaxis or dental hygiene appointment, a professional teeth cleaning is a deep cleaning of the surfaces of the teeth performed by a skilled dental hygienist. These cleanings are designed to remove the accumulated plaque, tartar, and bacteria (calculus) from the surfaces of the teeth (from the tooth enamel) in order to help prevent tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease (periodontal disease).
Professional teeth cleanings are a vital component of every general and preventative dental care routine. They provide patients with several benefits, including:
The American Dental Association recommends dental cleaning appointments for adults and children approximately every six months (unless your dentist recommends a more or less frequent schedule based on your individual needs).
Children should have their first dental cleaning and examination beginning at age one or as soon as their first tooth erupts (whichever occurs first).
Patients who require advanced periodontal treatment should also have a preliminary examination to determine the type of dental cleaning (i.e., regular prophylaxis or deep scaling and root planing) that will best meet their oral healthcare needs.
To find out if you're due for a dental cleaning, we welcome you to contact our office in Macomb, and our team can help you determine an optimal teeth-cleaning schedule.
At Opal Dental Group, we welcome both new and existing patients to our office for teeth cleaning appointments. To prepare for your appointment, we request that you bring valid identification and your dental insurance card to your appointment. Additionally, we request that you bring a list of the medications and supplements you are currently taking.
Otherwise, no special preparation is needed. Simply practice your regular oral hygiene routine and arrive a few minutes early to take care of any necessary paperwork.
Each teeth cleaning appointment is a little different, depending on the patient's individual needs at the time of their dental cleaning. The basic steps of professional teeth cleaning include the following:
At the beginning of our appointment, we will talk with you about your medical and dental history to ensure our records are current. At this time, you can tell us about any new symptoms or sensitivity you have experienced in addition to updating your list of medications and supplements.
During a basic prophylaxis cleaning, our dental hygienist uses special tools (metal scalers and curettes) and a gentle touch to remove the plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth, extending down to slightly below the gum line.
In deeper cleanings required for patients with periodontal disease, scaling extends deeper into the gingival pockets. In these cases, we ensure our patients' comfort throughout the cleaning with local anesthetic. Local anesthetic is not usually required during routine cleanings, unless a patient has significant tooth sensitivity. We will discuss your options with you before your appointment to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed throughout your teeth cleaning appointment.
After scaling is complete, our hygienist will apply a dollop of gritty paste to a dental polisher. The hygienist then passes the polisher's rotating head over the surfaces of your teeth. This polishing removes any remaining tartar and surface-level stains, leaving behind completely clean teeth and a brighter, whiter smile.
After polishing, we will floss and brush your teeth before providing you with water for rinsing.
When recommended, we might also provide patients with professional fluoride treatments and/or dental sealants after their prophylaxis cleaning. Fluoride treatments help to reverse the early stages of tooth decay and strengthen the tooth enamel to prevent cavities. Dental sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent molars to protect them from cavities, as well.
Our dental hygienist will talk with you about anything they notice during the cleaning, such as areas that could use a little more attention during at-home oral hygiene or early signs of gum irritation. We then provide you with personalized recommendations designed to improve your oral hygiene techniques and ensure you are using the best tools and products available.
Dental cleaning appointments often coincide with routine dental examinations. If you are also due for a professional dental examination, then your cleaning appointment will also include time with one of our dentists, a thorough examination, evaluation, and potential dental X-rays.
After a dental cleaning, patients can sometimes experience some mild soreness or sensitivity, which usually resolves within a few hours. If you have received a fluoride treatment, do not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes to maximize absorption. Additionally, we recommend avoiding any highly pigmented foods and beverages for at least 24 hours to prevent potential staining. Then, simply continue with your at-home oral hygiene routine.
The average cost of a professional teeth cleaning ranges from about $50 to $300, depending on the patient's needs, type of cleaning administered, and any additional preventative services provided during the appointment.
Most dental insurance policies include coverage for preventative dental cleanings. Our office team will be happy to help you navigate your insurance plan and provide you with an estimate of the cost of your dental care. Additionally, we provide a variety of financing and payment options to help make dental care affordable and accessible to all of our patients.
At Opal Dental Group, we continuously strive to provide our patients with an unmatched dental care experience by offering a comprehensive menu of advanced treatments, a comfortable and pleasant treatment experience, and exceptional treatment outcomes.
To learn more about the importance of professional teeth cleanings for achieving and maintaining optimal oral health or to request an appointment with one of our dentists in Macomb, we welcome you to contact our office today.
Monday12:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday8:00am - 2:00pm
saturdayClosed
sundayClosed