Dental cleaning is a simple procedure to clean teeth, remove tartar, polish teeth, and carry out early detection of possible oral problems It keeps teeth and gums healthy, as dental cleaning prevents diseases caused by poor oral hygiene such as cavities, calculus, or gum inflammation.
Dental cleaning must be performed every six months in children and adults. In orthodontic patients, every four months.
What does dental cleaning consist of?
- A general check-up of the mouth, gums, and teeth is performed.
- The dentist makes a scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth.
- The dentist applies prophylactic paste on the teeth and polishes them to remove stains and accumulated dirt, leaving them smooth, shiny, and clean.
- The dentist makes a general diagnosis of the patient, gives recommendations for proper brushing of the teeth, and if necessary prescribes mouthwash.
The cleaning may reveal dental problems such as cavities, calculus, and inflamed gums, among others. The dentist may refer the patient to another specialist to thoroughly evaluate their dental health and recommend appropriate treatment.
