Professional dental cleaning is a key part of your preventive dental visit to Bella Smiles in Riverhead, Nesconset, or Roslyn, NY. Following ADA guidelines, Bella Smiles recommends that patients come in for a routine preventive care visit twice a year. If you have gum disease or complex dental concerns, we may recommend additional visits in order to maintain optimal dental health. Preventive care and dental cleaning are general dentistry services we provide to the public in Long Island, New York.
Why Are Dental Cleanings Important?
A dental cleaning is a procedure that removes the plaque and tartar that have built up on surfaces of the teeth or along the gum line.
Although your daily tooth brushing and flossing is an important part of maintaining good dental health, there are often areas that are difficult to reach, see or clean effectively with at-home care.
The only way to lower your risk of getting gum disease is by having plaque and tartar regularly removed from your teeth. Using the latest dental tools and products, our team takes the time to perform a cleaning to remove harmful bacteria that can degrade your dental health over time.
Most patients experience little to no discomfort during their cleaning and enjoy a fresh, clean feeling after treatment.
In addition, routine visits allow us to spot dental problems in the early stage when conservative treatment options can still be effective. Drs. Lotardo, Pop, and Caesar screen for cavities, periodontal disease, and oral cancer during your comprehensive dental exam.
Bella Smiles is a family dentist office serving many areas of Long Island and we also offer pediatric dental care to monitor the development of teeth in younger patients. Routine visits at every age often prevent the sudden onset of dental concerns that can affect your daily life.
We believe in educating our patients on how to care for their teeth and gums in between regular teeth cleanings. That’s why we take time during your dental visits. Our dental hygienist will demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques to minimize plaque and tartar build-up between preventive care visits.
Routine Dental Cleanings: what to expect
Our team of dental professionals will make every effort to get to know you as an individual. This helps us offer you the care you need to meet your unique needs and goals. Although teeth cleaning is typically an easy and pain-free process, we understand that patients with dental anxiety and fear can feel anxious and uncomfortable while in the dentist’s chair.
We work with patients experiencing dental anxiety to help them relax. We will make sure you understand all aspects of your treatment and allow you time to ask as many questions as you need. The goal is to build your confidence so you can enjoy the benefits of good oral health.
After your dental cleaning, we will make appropriate recommendations when necessary. You may need additional dentist treatments or at-home oral care to help you maintain a healthy smile between visits.
If you show signs or symptoms of gum disease, we may perform scaling and root planning. This procedure will remove plaque and tartar from deep pockets in the gum. It is an intensive, deep cleaning that can help you prevent gum disease from progressing. Additionally, it will allow the damaged tissue to repair itself.
If your dentist finds a cavity, there are a number of treatments they can perform. Depending on the extent of tooth decay, treatment may be as simple as a dental filling. In some cases, the patient may need a root canal.
Dental Cleanings FAQs
How often should I get a dental cleaning?
The ADA recommends that you have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months. Most dental insurances cover cleanings twice a year. The amount of time between cleanings varies from patient to patient. It depends on genetics and their oral health care routine, and a patient’s overall health.
Some patients may choose to have their dentists clean their teeth every three months. Most people only need their dentist to do this once or twice a year.
Will a dental cleaning remove stains?
Professional dental cleaning will remove some light stains from teeth and brighten patients’ smiles. A dental cleaning will remove any built up plaque on a patient’s teeth. Plaque buildup causes teeth to yellow and stain. Dental cleanings will remove these stains.
Are sensitive teeth common after a dental cleaning?
Sensitive teeth are one of the most common side effects of dental cleanings. Sometimes when a dentists removes plaque from teeth and gums, it may cause some sensitivity. Many patients report this while drinking hot or cold things. This should go away after two or three days.