Dental Cleaning

A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning you receive from your dental hygienist and is usually completed in less than a one-hour appointment. You will also typically get x-rays and an exam from Dr. Miller at this time to check on your oral health. Cleanings should be performed at a minimum of every six months to prevent excessive plaque buildup. Plaque left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums, tooth decay and bone resorption. A routine dental cleaning should include scaling, root planing and polishing.

Scaling and root planing is the process of removing plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces with a variety of methods, depending on the amount of plaque and tartar. Polishing completes the cleaning, making the surface of the teeth smooth and minimizing future plaque build-up.