Professional Dental Cleanings

Dental health is very important as it can affect our general health. We must take care of our teeth because we are provided with only one natural set. Proper dental care and regular hygiene visits can keep teeth healthy for a lifetime.

Dental plaque is a soft, sticky, colorless film of bacteria that is formed on the teeth. The bacteria multiply rapidly in this film and can cause infections. The dental plaque has to be removed within 10-14 hours by brushing or else it hardens to form calculus or tartar. Once formed, calculus cannot be removed by normal brushing but has to be removed by scaling by your dental hygienist.

Scaling is the procedure of removing calculus (tartar), plaque and stains from the teeth. Tooth scaling is part of professional tooth cleaning. Everyday brushing and flossing is vital to maintain good oral hygiene. Lack of proper daily dental care can lead to the formation of dental plaque. Scaling is how we remove infected deposits like plaque, calculus and stains from the tooth surfaces. If they are not removed by scaling, these deposits cause infection and loosening of the gums, ultimately leading to tooth loss.  Scaling makes gums healthy and firm. Scaling is a safe and routine procedure and does not damage the tooth surface. But it must be done by a dental professional certified in this skill.

Polishing of tooth surfaces is used to make tooth surfaces smooth. This makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate on the teeth to cause decay or gum disease.  Polishing your teeth helps to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease.  The purpose of polishing tooth surfaces is to make this surface smooth which makes it more difficult for plaque and debris to accumulate on your teeth to cause decay or gum disease.  Professional polishing removes plaque, tartar, and stain from the teeth.  It is a cosmetic procedure that removes surface stains on the crown part of the tooth or above the gum line so they will look and feel cleaner.  However, this procedure is not a procedure that cleans infected, diseased gum tissue and root surfaces. This is only a surface cleaning and will not eliminate disease or get it under control. Polishing may be done by your dental hygienist and or dental assistant office along with education in the proper care of your teeth and gums.

Since this polishing is a preventive procedure, it is completed only if the teeth are free from calcified plaque build-up and the gum tissue is healthy.

It's "just a cleaning"….
Many people think of a dental polishing as the dental equivalent of car waxing.   Actually, the combination of a polish and a routine examination is the first-line defence against terrible dental problems.  

Years of experience has shown that the best way to prevent dental pain and expense is to prevent the problem in the beginning by brushing and flossing.  At least half a dozen studies have shown that people with poor oral health tend to be at risk for heart disease. 

So whatever is making you want to delay your polish and exam doesn't matter to the harmful bacteria in your mouth; they will still multiply at their usual rate, and your risks will go up.  The easiest and least-costly thing you can do to protect yourself is to schedule regular dental cleanings & exams.

When scaling and polishing is done, it is like cleansing the teeth deep.  Hygienists use special instruments to remove the calculus (tartar) then give the teeth a thorough polish. Areas below the gum line, behind the teeth and gaps in between the teeth are thoroughly cleaned as these are the regions commonly untouched by normal brushing.

Fluoride is a natural element that can be found in many things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. Many years ago, scientists began to notice that children, who lived in places where fluoride occurred naturally in the water, had fewer dental cavities.

Fluoride that is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your teeth to make stronger enamel. Topical fluoride - fluoride that is applied to the outside of the enamel - makes the crystals that form enamel more durable. Tooth enamel crystals that have fluoride are much more resistant to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface to become porous.  Things in our everyday diet can affect our tooth enamel such as acidic foods like tomato’s and pop. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize and strengthen your teeth.

The fluoride we place in your mouth will help make the crystals in your tooth enamel stronger. Always use toothpaste with fluoride. Look for the Canadian Dental Association seal of approval on the toothpaste tube in your bathroom.

We recommend that you see your regular dentist within 18 months of your dental Cleaning.

      Your Dental Cleaning includes: