Dental Cleanings

Most patients do well with a professional cleaning and exam every six months. Some people benefit from more frequent visits, particularly those with a history of gum disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system, or heavy plaque and tartar buildup. If you have been treated for periodontal disease, your hygienist may recommend periodontal maintenance every three to four months instead. Your dental team at BayView Dental Associates will recommend a schedule based on your individual oral health.

Your hygienist begins by examining your teeth and gums, then uses specialized instruments to remove plaque and hardened calculus (tartar) from tooth surfaces and along the gumline. Next comes polishing to lift surface stains and smooth the enamel, followed by flossing between every tooth. Many visits also include a fluoride treatment and any necessary X-rays, and one of our dentists will complete an exam to check for decay, gum changes, and other concerns.

Daily brushing and flossing are essential, but they cannot remove calculus. Once plaque hardens into calculus, it bonds to the tooth surface and can only be removed with professional instruments. Calculus also collects below the gumline, where a toothbrush simply cannot reach. Professional cleanings clear away what home care leaves behind, which is exactly what keeps gum inflammation from progressing into periodontal disease.

A routine cleaning is not painful for most patients. You may feel pressure, vibration, or brief sensitivity, especially if your gums are already inflamed or if it has been a while since your last visit. Let your hygienist know right away if you feel discomfort, because there are several ways to make the appointment more comfortable, including topical numbing gel and desensitizing treatments. Patients with dental anxiety can talk with our team about additional comfort options.

Plan on about 45 to 60 minutes for a routine cleaning and exam. Appointments may run longer if you need X-rays, if significant buildup has accumulated, or if your dentist identifies areas that require closer evaluation. Deep cleanings such as scaling and root planing typically require more time and are often completed across more than one visit.

A routine cleaning, also called a prophylaxis, is a preventive procedure that removes plaque and calculus at and slightly below the gumline for patients with healthy gums. A deep cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, is a therapeutic treatment for patients with gum disease. It removes bacterial deposits from deeper below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces so healthy tissue can reattach to the tooth. Your dentist determines which you need by measuring the pockets around your teeth and reviewing X-rays.

Yes, and sooner rather than later. Bleeding gums are one of the earliest warning signs of gum disease, along with tenderness, redness, persistent bad breath, receding gums, and teeth that feel loose or have started to shift. Gum disease is preventable and, in its earliest stage, reversible. Waiting allows the infection to progress toward bone loss and tooth loss, so please contact us as soon as you notice symptoms.

Polishing removes surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco, so many patients notice their teeth look brighter and feel noticeably smoother afterward. A cleaning does not change the underlying color of your enamel or dentin, however. If you want a more dramatic result, ask your dentist about professional whitening, which works best on teeth that have just been cleaned.

There is. The bacteria responsible for gum disease can enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammation elsewhere in the body. Research has connected untreated periodontal disease with cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory infections, complications during pregnancy, and greater difficulty controlling blood sugar in patients with diabetes. Keeping up with regular cleanings protects more than your smile.