Your Smile Deserves High-Quality Scale and Clean in Miranda

A dental scale and clean, often termed professional teeth cleaning, is a routine procedure designed to maintain oral hygiene and prevent dental issues. This treatment involves removing plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that cannot be removed through regular brushing and flossing at home. Here’s an overview of what the process generally involves:

• Examination:
  The dentist or dental hygienist starts with an examination of your entire mouth to assess the health of your teeth and gums.
• Plaque and tartar removal:
  The dentist carefully removes plaque and tartar buildup around the gum line and between the teeth using a dental scaler.
• Polishing teeth:
  After plaque and tartar removal, your teeth are polished to remove any surface stains. This is often done with a high-powered brush and a polishing paste.
• Rinsing:
  Your mouth will be rinsed thoroughly to flush out any debris.
• Fluoride treatment:
  In some cases, fluoride treatment may be performed to help protect your teeth against cavities.

This routine dental service helps keep your teeth and gums healthy, giving you fresher breath and a brighter smile. Always consult with a dental professional to understand how often a scale and clean is recommended for your specific oral health needs.

Dental cleanings are usually recommended every six months. However, depending on individual oral health conditions and risk factors, some people may require these cleanings more frequently. Such instances may be necessary for individuals with severe gingivitis or periodontitis, who are at high risk of plaque buildup or other dental problems.

Follow the personalised advice of your dentist, who can assess your specific needs and recommend the appropriate interval for your dental scale and clean appointments.

While brushing and flossing your teeth at home keeps your mouth clean, professional dental cleaning can be more beneficial. A scale and clean involves specific techniques to thoroughly remove food debris, plaque, or tartar, even from difficult-to-reach areas in your mouth. Hence, it has various benefits for your overall oral health. To help you understand more, here are the reasons why this procedure is beneficial for your teeth:

• Keep your gums healthy:
  Professional dental cleaning uses specific tools to reach and clean difficult areas between your teeth and gums. Hence, it prevents plaque and tartar from accumulating along the gumline, which could lead to gingivitis. A scale and clean helps prevent infections and inflammation of the gums, promoting overall gum health.
• Combatting bad breath:
  Persistent bad breath often stems from lingering bacteria in the mouth. A thorough scale and clean helps eliminate these harmful bacteria, promoting fresher breath and a more confident smile.
• Early detection of dental problems:
  Going to your dentist for cleaning can give your dentist an opportunity to spot early signs of oral health issues. These include cavities, broken tooth fillings, and even signs of oral cancer. Early detection often translates to simpler and less costly treatments.
• Enhancing the brightness of your smile:
  Professional cleaning can reduce tobacco, tea, coffee, and other stains on your teeth. This helps avoid the dull or yellowish appearance of teeth, resulting in a brighter, more beautiful smile.

Even with a consistent dental hygiene care routine, professional teeth cleaning by a dentist is crucial for a few key reasons:

• Dentists use specific tools to remove tartar, which brushing and flossing at home cannot eliminate. When dental calculus is left behind, it increases the risk of developing oral health problems, such as gum disease.
• Dentists are able to clean difficult-to-reach areas, such as the area behind the last upper and lower molars, which are often overlooked during regular at-home cleaning.
• Professional cleaning includes polishing and, optionally, fluoride treatment, which further protects your teeth against decay and strengthens your overall oral health.

Neglecting to have regular dental cleanings can lead to several significant oral health issues, including the following:

• Increased risk of gum disease:
  Without regular cleanings, plaque builds up and hardens into tartar along the gum line. This process can cause gum inflammation, known as gingivitis, which can progress to periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that can damage soft tissue and destroy the bone supporting your teeth.
• Higher chance of tooth decay:
  Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can accumulate on teeth between dental visits. These bacteria produce acids that can erode tooth enamel and create cavities. Regular cleanings help remove plaque and reduce the risk of cavities.
• Potential for tooth loss:
  Advanced periodontal disease, resulting from neglected oral hygiene, can lead to the weakening of the bone structure that holds teeth in place. Over time, this can result in tooth loosening and, eventually, tooth loss, significantly impacting one’s quality of life and requiring more complex dental interventions to restore function and aesthetics.
• Delayed detection of oral health issues:
  Routine dental appointments involve cleaning and examining the mouth for signs of problems. Skipping these appointments could lead to missing early signs of issues such as dental decay, oral cancer, and systemic health problems that may present symptoms in the mouth.

Dental care professionals are skilled in using proper cleaning techniques and specific dental tools to effectively remove hardened plaque. They aim to clean every surface of your teeth thoroughly and along the gumline.

Generally, a dental scale and clean procedure are not painful as they do not involve any invasive steps like making incisions. In most cases, dentists use dental tools and employ gentle techniques to remove the tartar, also called dental calculus.

However, during or after a dental scale and clean, some patients may experience discomfort or sensitivity. This can occur due to the removal of tartar and plaque, especially if there’s a significant buildup or if the gums are sensitive. The level of discomfort can vary based on individual oral health conditions and sensitivity. It’s important that you communicate your comfort levels to your dentist, who can adjust the procedure or offer extra measures to minimise discomfort.

Additionally, dentists can offer sedation options for patients experiencing dental anxiety or those with special needs. Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It ranges from mild sedatives to more profound options where patients are nearly asleep, often referred to as “sleep dentistry.” This method makes it possible for patients to undergo the necessary treatments comfortably.

At Refresh Dental Care, your comfort is our priority. If you feel apprehension about an upcoming dental cleaning or are concerned about potential discomfort, our team would be happy to take the necessary actions to keep you as comfortable as possible.

After a dental scale and clean, your dentist will provide specific aftercare instructions tailored to your needs. Here are some general tips:

• Gentle brushing:
  Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently to avoid irritating any sensitive teeth.
• Floss with care:
  Continue to floss between teeth daily, but be gentle around areas that may feel more sensitive after cleaning.
• Avoid certain foods and beverages:
  Temporarily avoid foods or drinks that are too hot, cold, or acidic, which could aggravate gum soreness and tooth sensitivity.
• Rinse with salt water:
  If you experience any gum soreness, a warm saltwater rinse can help soothe discomfort.

Following these tips can help you have a smooth recovery after a dental cleaning. For more information about the aftercare, please don’t hesitate to contact our dental clinic. Our team will give you a personalised treatment plan, including how to take care of your teeth after a scale and clean in Miranda.

On average, the teeth cleaning cost can range from $200 to $300 for a standard scale and clean session. This cost can be higher if additional treatments or deeper cleaning are needed. Factors that can influence the teeth cleaning cost can include the extent of the scale and clean procedure, the specific needs of the patient and the dental clinic’s location.

It’s advisable to consult with your dentist for a precise estimate of the teeth cleaning cost and to check if your health fund might cover part of the fee. At Refresh Dental Care Miranda, we can provide a detailed breakdown of your scale and clean treatment during a consultation.