Dental Cleaning

A dental cleaning is a fairly routine procedure that is rarely painful. Those who fear dentists or who have marked tooth sensitivity may feel more discomfort than the average patient. As well, those who have not had their teeth cleaned in a long while may expect to experience a longer cleaning, and some additional pulling or scraping to remove plaque from teeth. However, for most, a dental cleaning is more inconvenient than painful.

Once can expect the average dental cleaning to take between 30 minutes to an hour. If the cleaning is part of a yearly check-up, the dentist may also wish to take X-rays at this time to make certain no cavities are present. Usually, a dental hygienist performs most of the dental cleaning. The dentist will normally take a last look, and perhaps perform some difficult plaque removal toward the end of the cleaning, as well as evaluate the gums for gum disease.

One usually does not require pain medication for a dental cleaning. Some patients are made so nervous by dentists however that they may ask for and receive nitrous oxide. Alternately, a patient might take a tranquilizer about an hour before the appointment to help with anxiety. In cases of extreme anxiety, some dentists now perform what is called sleeping dentistry, where a patient can be medicated and essentially sleep through a procedure.

The hygienist will generally employ several tools during a dental cleaning. One tool is a tooth polisher that can buff teeth, and eliminate tiny pieces of plaque. Polishers generally have several different sized heads so cleaning can occur in hard to reach places.

Scalers look a bit like metal hooks and are used to remove hard plaque, especially between teeth. When the dentist is using scalers this may feel uncomfortable to painful depending upon one’s sensitivity level and pain threshold. Other factors that may determine pain is length of time since one’s last cleaning and extent of plaque build-up.

Dentists may also employ a device that shoots water into the mouth, so the person can rinse out plaque several times during the dental cleaning. In some cases, the dentist may merely use mouthwash for this purpose.

One can also expect a dentist to inquire about one’s home brushing and flossing activities. One is likely to hear a lecture during a dental cleaning if plaque build-up is bad or if regular brushing and flossing is not practiced. If one is regularly taking care of teeth at home, and plaque build-up is significant, this may indicate the need for more frequent cleanings.

A dental cleaning often concludes with advice about home care of teeth, and scheduling of appointments needed to take care of filling cavities. If one has a busy dentist, it may be wise to schedule the next cleaning well in advance, so one can keep regular six-month cleaning appointments.If one has a heart condition, or has undergone heart surgery, it is extremely important to let the dentist know prior to the day of the teeth cleaning. Those with heart problems or heart defects are at high risk for developing a condition called bacterial endocarditis, which can seriously affect the heart. The only treatment needed prior to a dental cleaning, unless otherwise instructed, is a dose of antibiotics an hour before the cleaning. If a dentist does not know the proper dosage, then one should contact one’s physician. Usually dentists will know the dosage, but if in doubt, one can also check with the American Heart Association, which lists all guidelines for bacterial endocarditis prevention.