Sue Vetter — Dental Cleaning Services

Having periodic teeth cleanings is significant for preventing cavities and gum disease. However, it is not common knowledge that there are two sorts of basic cleanings.

These include standard cleaning, which people should have every six months, and a much deeper cleaning intended for people with mild to advanced gum disease. Some dental practices do not use the exact term ‘deeper dental cleaning’. Instead, they may refer to it as root planing and scaling. Let us help you understand what are tooth cleaning and its types.

Why you Need Teeth Cleaning

The primary purpose of both routine and deep dental cleanings is to remove plaque and tartar deposits that can lead to gum disease and other oral health issues. Aside from that, the two treatments are vastly different.

Routine Cleaning Vs Deep Cleaning

Your dental cleaning specialist in Seattle will schedule a routine cleaning for every six-month appointment in case you visit them that regularly. For this process, the specialist will use specific equipment to remove plaque and tartar deposits from the surfaces of your teeth above your gums. It helps in preventing gum disease and even treating mild cases of gingivitis.

While getting routine teeth cleaning, you can also inquire your dentist about areas of your mouth where your personal brushing and flossing routines could use some assistance. They can guide you on performing both tasks correctly so that your home cleaning routine is removing as much plaque and tartar as possible.

Dentists typically combine routine cleanings with a routine check-up to examine your teeth, do an oral cancer screening, and, if necessary, take X-rays.

On the other hand, a deep dental cleaning, as the name suggests, cleans your teeth thoroughly, utilizing unique procedures to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria below the gum line and all the way down to the roots. This procedure eliminates bacteria below the gum line and around the roots, preventing gum disease from progressing and resulting in tooth loss.

In addition, your dentist will polish (or plane) the surfaces of your teeth roots to make it difficult for bacteria to “attach” to them in the future. To destroy hard-to-reach germs, the dentist may apply an antibiotic gel is sometimes to the teeth while cleaning. At other times, they may prescribe oral antibiotics or a specific antibiotic mouth rinse.

Four Types of Dental Cleanings

Other than the basic procedures mentioned above, teeth cleaning procedures are further divided into the following four specific types:

Prophylaxis Cleaning:

It is recommended for individuals who have a healthy mouth in general. It intends to provide routine dental maintenance.

Scaling and Root Planing:

A little more intrusive (but non-surgical), it is a teeth cleaning process that involves a thorough cleaning of the gums, gum line, and other tooth-supporting components. It is suggested for people with gum disorders such as gingivitis or periodontitis.

Gross Debridement:

If a person has not visited the dentist in several years, there is likely to be a significant plaque build-up on the gums, teeth, and in between the teeth. As a result, such individuals should get a gross debridement, which is deep teeth cleaning process.

Periodontal Maintenance:

It is routine oral care for people who have significant dental problems. Individuals with gingivitis or periodontitis may benefit from this type of cleaning.

Cost of Dental Cleaning

The cost of teeth cleaning varies depending on where you reside. Aside from the geographical cost, the cost of a dental cleaning appointment might vary depending on factors such as availability of insurance, payment in cash or other modes, first-time treatment, number of cleanings per year, age, and the type of cleaning performed.

At Sue Vetter’s dental practice, you will receive the best dental cleaning services in Seattle at market-competitive rates. Apart from providing quality oral care, we can also help you manage the cost of dental cleaning. Book your dental cleaning appointment with us today or learn more by calling us.

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