Professional dental cleaning in Mallorca
To keep our teeth and oral health it is essential to have healthy gums, through proper hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.
Despite how well we can perform oral hygiene at home, with a toothbrush, interdental floss or floss and the right mouthwash, the formation and accumulation of tartar is practically inevitable. This accumulated bacterial plaque is the main cause of the appearance of problems such as caries and periodontal disease in both adults and children.
For this reason, it is essential to visit a dental hygienist and have your teeth professionally cleaned according to your personal needs, which can be identified by the dentist in the also important periodic maintenance check-ups.
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What does professional teeth cleaning consist of?
Professional teeth cleaning, also known as prophylaxis, is a simple yet fundamental treatment in the care of teeth and gums. It involves the thorough and effective removal of disease-causing bacteria. The aim of the hygienist is to remove tartar accumulated on teeth, interdental spaces and gum line that may be causing problems. As this is a professional cleaning, the use of certain tools allows the hygienist to be more thorough and ensure the complete removal of bacteria.
Phases of professional dental cleaning
As we have said, hygienists have a series of tools at their disposal when carrying out prophylaxis. Before starting, the dental cleaning specialist will carry out an examination to assess the state of the teeth and gums and detect any asymptomatic problems, especially in those cases in which an appointment with the hygienist is requested and a previous check-up has not been carried out. For the hygienist it is important to know if it is a maintenance cleaning or if there is any periodontal disease such as gingivitis. Once this has been determined, treatment begins:
Professional dental cleaning begins with the application of a tool called an ultrasound point with which the specialist removes accumulated tartar deposits thanks to its vibration and water pressure system. This instrument is much more efficient at removing accumulated calculus than a person can be with their own hygiene tools at home.
Next, the plaque accumulated between the teeth is removed, which are usually areas that are difficult to access by manual cleaning, and are therefore also more likely to be the source of oral problems. Therefore, the hygienist’s objective is to effectively eliminate the accumulation of bacterial plaque in the interdental spaces.
Subsequently, the specialist can use a brush with prophylaxis paste and a tool called an air-polisher to remove the stains on the external side (the vestibular side) that have adhered to the tooth after ingesting food such as coffee or tea and also caused by smoking.
The last step of professional tooth cleaning is the application of a bucket of fluoride gel. This remineralises the tooth enamel, leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth but, above all, increasing the resistance of the teeth with its protective function against the action of bacterial plaque, also known as biofilm. Thanks to this step, the probability of developing pathologies such as caries is reduced.
Maintenance
Preventing periodontal diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis, as well as the appearance of caries, is essential to maintain the integrity of the mouth and prevent tooth loss. Good oral health involves optimal hygiene at home, but it also means regular appointments with the hygienist and the dentist assigned to check-ups. The idea is that through the simplest treatments such as professional teeth cleaning, we can prevent the onset of disease and keep our mouths in good condition.
Frequently asked questions about dental cleaning
It depends on each individual case and the patient’s oral health status. In some cases, genetic characteristics and the quality of the saliva mean that once a year is more than enough. For most patients the recommendation is to visit the dental hygienist every 9 months. However, if there is a periodontal problem, the specialist may recommend this type of dental cleaning approximately every 4 months.
Yes, especially in cases where orthodontic treatment is fixed, it is even more necessary to carry out a prophylaxis to ensure the proper elimination of bacterial plaque. It is important to follow the recommendations of the specialist in charge of this treatment regarding the necessary frequency of these professional cleanings. In the case of removable orthodontics, the frequency can be the usual one.
In this case it is also necessary to carry out a dental curettage, also known as scaling and root planing. Unlike prophylaxis, curettage, as part of periodontal treatment, also cleans the inner part of the periodontium below the gum line (subgingival part) by treating the formation of periodontal pockets.
No, dental cleanings do not wear down or scratch the teeth or enamel. The teeth are not going to suffer any alteration so they can be done as much as the specialist recommends. In fact, they are necessary for the preservation of the health of the teeth as they thoroughly remove the bacterial plaque that is the main cause of most oral diseases.
No, but for some patients it can be uncomfortable, especially those who may experience increased sensitivity in their teeth and gums. However, if the problem is anxiety and stress generated by odontophobia or fear of the dentist, conscious sedation can always be used to perform the procedure, so the patient will not feel anything.
