Teeth Cleaning in El Paso
We love keeping pearly whites nice and pearly at Pearl Dental. Regular teeth cleanings are a key factor in the kind of preventative care that keeps your smile bright and white. We welcome our patients like friends and family so that you can relax and enjoy your time in our office. Our dentists take time to review your medical history, X-rays (if needed), and discuss any concerns or pain with you. We view our relationship with our patients as a collaboration where you have a voice in your treatment options.
Keeping your teeth clean is a vital part of staying healthy. When it’s time for an annual professional dental cleaning, in El Paso, Texas visit Pearl Dental. Our dentists and dental hygienists can help you take care of your oral health and address any teeth, gum, or jaw problems.
What Is Dental Teeth Cleaning?
A dental teeth cleaning is a deeper cleaning than the what you can accomplish at home. A teeth cleaning from a dentist will leave your teeth brighter and your breath fresher. Plus, it can remove stains, look for dental issues, and prevent serious dental issues from developing in the future.
Types Of Teeth Cleaning
There are a few different types of teeth cleanings. All teeth cleaning can be an important part of your dental health depending on your needs. Types of teeth cleaning include:
- At-home teeth cleanings to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar from daily eating and drinking.
- Standard dental cleaning that uses specialized tools to remove plaque, stains, and calculus from your teeth. Standard cleanings are done by a dental hygienist and might include x-rays to look for cavities and gum disease.
- Deep dental cleanings that remove bacteria growth at your gumline to treat gum disease.
Standard Teeth Cleaning: What to Expect
Our dental hygienists do the actual teeth cleaning. Hygienists specialize in the use of special tools that remove plaque, stains, and calculus from the surface of the teeth. That telltale scraping sound you hear when you’re getting a cleaning comes from the use of these tools. Their size, shape, and design allow the hygienist to maneuver through the mouth to scrape off build-up from the front, back, and in between the teeth.
The process of getting your teeth cleaned is relatively simple and quick, taking about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the extent of the cleaning needed. In addition to removing plaque and tartar, the dental hygienist will also perform a thorough polishing of the teeth to remove any surface stains. This is usually done with a spinning brush and a special toothpaste designed for polishing. The hygienist may also use fluoride to help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and to help prevent cavities.
You may get X-rays as part of your standard cleaning, too. After you’ve had X-rays and the hygienist has done the cleaning, the dentist performs an exam. A thorough exam can catch cavities in the early stages and put a stop to gum disease before it begins. From there, the dentist will make recommendations that may include scheduling a follow-up appointment or scheduling your next cleaning a few months down the road.
Deep Teeth Cleaning: What to Expect
We understand that sometimes oral health care takes a backseat to other pressing needs. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a cleaning or you’ve got a case of gum disease, you may need a deep cleaning (also called scaling and root planing).
A deep cleaning targets bacteria below and above the gum line. Bacteria may not seem like a big deal, but it can lead to tooth and bone loss. In some cases, it can travel to other places in the body and cause more severe medical issues.
Deep cleanings are more invasive and aggressive than a standard cleaning and will take longer than a routine, standard cleaning. However, the dentist will apply a local anesthetic to numb the gums if there’s even a small risk of pain. You might feel some soreness when you’re done, but that soreness doesn’t usually last long.
Preventative Dental Care
Preventive care is important to your overall health and wellness. Preventive care includes measures such as yearly checkups, cancer and other disease screenings, weight management, and a professional dental cleaning at least once a year. It’s not unusual for a professional dental cleaning to sometimes fall low on your priority list, but making time for it can save you from serious issues down the road. Preventive dental care can prevent gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay.
El Paso Teeth Cleaning FAQ
We can give you a tour of our office and exam rooms. Just let us know a few days in advance of your appointment. We’ll walk you through and let you see the exam rooms, chairs, and X-ray machines. If you have any questions before your cleaning, we can answer them at this pre-appointment or when you come in for your cleaning.
A standard cleaning takes about an hour. That hour includes X-rays, cleaning, and the dental exam by the dentist. A deep cleaning usually takes about two hours. If it’s been a long time since your last cleaning, you may need to make a second appointment to fully clean the teeth.
Keep in mind that schedules occasionally get behind. Your time is important to us, so we do our best to keep our appointments moving as scheduled.
A standard cleaning rarely hurts. You’ll hear the hygienist scraping and tugging at the teeth while removing plaque and tartar, but it doesn’t hurt. If you have sensitive teeth, the water used during the cleaning may irritate the teeth. Let your hygienist know before starting the appointment, so they can take steps to prevent sensitivity pain.
Deep cleanings may cause pain. However, our dentists use local anesthetics if there’s potential for pain. The anesthetic wears off after a few hours, and you can go about your business as usual.
The cost of a dental cleaning depends on several factors. For instance, a deep cleaning is more expensive than a standard dental cleaning. Services that are often part of dental cleanings, such as x-rays, can also add to the cots. If you have dental insurance, some or all of the cost of dental cleaning will likely be covered. You can check your plan to see what’s covered, and what charges you might need to pay.
The American Dental Association recommends that adults have their teeth cleaned by a dentist at least once a year. However, people with gum disease or certain medical conditions might need their teeth cleaned more often. The dentists at Pearl dental will help you understand your oral health and explain how often you need a dental teeth cleaning.
A dental deep cleaning is for people who show signs of gum disease. It goes beyond a standard dental cleaning to clean bacteria from under your gum line. A deep cleaning is more invasive than a standard dental cleaning, but you’ll be giving dental anesthesia to numb your gums. A dental deep cleaning can treat gum disease and prevent serious complications such as tooth and bone loss.
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