Regular dental cleanings play an important role in preventing cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems. If it has been a while since your last visit, you may benefit from a deep teeth cleaning at a local dentistry practice in the Bronx, NY. Dental hygienists at our clinic can remove plaque and tartar buildup below the gum line, preventing the developmet of various oral issues. At 505 Dental Associates, our dentists provide thorough, comfortable cleanings, including gum scaling and root planing when needed. Compared to the cost of treating advanced periodontal disease, teeth cleaning costs are a valuable investment in your long-term oral health.
Even if you brush twice a day, floss regularly, and take good care of your diet, regular dental visits are still important. Brushing and flossing cannot always remove all the plaque and tartar that builds up over time. Professional cleanings take care of those areas, while routine exams give your dentist a chance to spot problems before they become more difficult to treat. If you have tooth pain, sensitivity, or any other unusual symptoms, it is also important to schedule a dental visit rather than wait for them to get worse.
Plaque and tartar can build up in places that are hard to reach with a toothbrush or floss. When this happens, a deep cleaning dentist can remove the buildup and help prevent problems such as gingivitis and more advanced gum disease. At 505 Dental Associates, our family dentists take the time to explain what is being done during your cleaning and answer your questions along the way. We want you to feel comfortable during the visit, not rushed through it.
Why Have Your Teeth Cleaned Professionally?
A professional dental cleaning aims to remove all plaque and tartar buildup. Dental plaque, a sticky biofilm, continually builds up over your tooth surfaces. It contains numerous substances, including bacteria.
Most plaque is removed during regular brushing and flossing, but some will inevitably remain in hard-to-reach areas. Although dental plaque is a soft substance, it hardens into tartar or calculus within a few days. At this stage, you can no longer remove it by simply brushing or flossing your teeth. Instead, it must be removed by a dental professional using specialized tools and techniques.
What Happens If You Don’t Have Your Teeth Cleaned Professionally?
If you don’t have your teeth cleaned professionally at regular intervals, then problems can arise. The bacteria in plaque and calculus produce harmful toxins and acids.
The toxins can infect and inflame your gums, increasing the risk of gum or periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can soon become serious, gradually destroying gums and the bone around teeth so that teeth loosen over time. Advanced periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss.
Examination by Bronx Dental Hygienist
When you arrive for your appointment, your dental hygienist assesses your teeth and gums:
- Inspects your mouth
- Takes X-rays, if necessary
- Checks for signs of periodontal pockets that can develop if your gums become inflamed and infected
After checking the pockets between your teeth — the space between your teeth and gums — your dentist arrives for an inspection. If you’ve been keeping up with your oral hygiene, all you may need at this point is fluoride treatment and polishing. If, however, there’s evidence of periodontal disease, an infection, or something worse, you may need a deep dental cleaning.
We accept most dental insurance plans and help our patients understand their coverage for routine teeth cleanings and preventive dental care. Our team can verify your Dental Insurance benefits, explain your options, and help make maintaining your oral health simple and affordable.
Regular Dental Cleaning vs Deep Dental Cleaning
A regular dental cleaning is also called a scale and polish and removes all plaque and tartar buildup on teeth above the gum line and just below. You wouldn’t typically need any anesthetic for this treatment. Most people only need this treatment every six months, provided they have good oral hygiene at home.
A deep dental cleaning is also called a scaling and root planing treatment. In addition to cleaning your teeth, tooth roots that may have become exposed due to gum recession are also cleaned and smoothed. It is a much more extensive cleaning process, and your dentist may recommend a local anesthetic to help you feel more comfortable.
What to Expect During Deep Dental Cleaning
During a deep dental cleaning, your local Bronx dentist gives you a local anesthetic to numb the pain and make you as comfortable as possible during the procedure. The process involves:
- Scaling or root planing: Tartar is scaled away from your teeth and exposed tooth roots. Smoothing tooth roots makes it easier for your gums to reattach around them and makes it harder for more plaque and tartar to build up.
- Checking for periodontal disease: Your dentist inspects your teeth and gums for infections that can lead to an abscess.
- Removing bacteria: Inserting topical antibiotics helps to remove more bacteria successfully from periodontal pockets.
Does Teeth Cleaning Hurt?
Regular cleaning doesn’t hurt. It may be a bit uncomfortable, as you sit in the dentist’s chair with your mouth open. But you don’t need sedation or a local anesthetic. During this procedure, your hygienist carefully removes plaque and calcified tartar from your teeth.
Preventing Calculus Buildup
Preventing calculus buildup is quite straightforward and only requires minutes each day. Your routine should include the following:
- Brushing your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day
- Flossing daily
- Using a suitable toothbrush with soft bristles that will not harm your teeth or gums
- Using fluoride toothpaste
- Eating a healthy diet and avoiding excess sugary and starchy snacks
- Avoiding smoking and using tobacco products or trying to quit smoking entirely
Visiting your dentist for a deep cleaning when recommended, along with checkups twice a year, is the best way to keep your teeth stay clean, healthy, and free of cavities. Compared to the cost of more extensive treatments like teeth fillings, crowns, or bridges, routine teeth cleaning cost is minimal and a smart preventive investment. For patients with busy weekday schedules, our dentist in the Bronx offers Saturday and Sunday hours.
Do you have any questions about the teeth cleaning procedure in the Bronx, NY? For more information or to schedule an appointment for deep teeth cleaning in the Bronx, please contact our dental office. You can also visit our experienced dentist in Co-op City and Claremont for a thorough cleaning tailored to your needs.