Why Are Dental Cleanings So Important?
Even with diligent brushing and flossing habits, plaque and tartar deposits can still accumulate on your teeth over time. Professional cleanings by a skilled dental hygienist are essential to remove this buildup in areas your toothbrush simply can’t reach.
Without regular cleanings, plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and eventual tooth loss if left untreated. Cleanings also allow your dentist to closely monitor any areas of concern and provide preventive treatments to stop issues before they start.
What to Expect During Your Cleaning
Your dental cleaning appointment at Lake Merced Dentistry will involve the following steps:
Oral Exam: Your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues to check for abnormalities or areas requiring treatment. We may also take digital X-rays to detect cavities or other issues.
Plaque/Tartar Removal: Our skilled hygienists use specialized tools to gently scrape away any built-up plaque and calcified tartar deposits from the surfaces of your teeth, as well as slightly below the gumline. This cleaning leaves the tooth surfaces feeling fresh and clean.
Tooth Polishing: After the cleaning, we apply a professional-grade polish using a spinning rubber cup or brush. This polish helps remove any remaining plaque or stains and smooths your teeth.
Flossing: Your hygienist will thoroughly floss between your teeth to dislodge any trapped food particles or plaque you may have missed.
Rinse: You’ll rinse your mouth to remove loose debris from the cleaning process.
Fluoride Treatment: A concentrated fluoride gel, varnish, or foam treatment is applied to help strengthen and remineralize your enamel. This provides added cavity protection beyond your daily fluoride toothpaste.
Dentist Exam: To conclude your cleaning appointment, the dentist will review your X-rays, examine your teeth and gums again, and discuss any areas of concern or recommended treatments.
Benefits of Regular Cleanings
In addition to helping prevent cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss, routine dental cleanings at Lake Merced Dentistry offer a wide range of benefits:
- Fresher breath by removing bacteria and food particles
- Brighter, whiter smile by polishing away stains
- Early detection of oral health issues while still easily treatable
- Decreased risk of health issues linked to gum disease
- Opportunity to update your dentist on any changes or concerns
- Education from your hygienist on optimal home care techniques
- More comfortable cleanings by preventing excessive buildup
Problems We Can Help Treat
If it has been over six months since your last dental cleaning, you may be at increased risk of developing the following:
- Tooth decay/cavities: Plaque produces acid that eats away tooth enamel over time.
- Gingivitis: This early stage of gum disease causes red, swollen, and inflamed gum tissue that bleeds easily.
- Periodontitis: Untreated gingivitis progresses into this advanced form of gum disease which destroys bone and gum tissues, leading to tooth loss.
- Tartar buildup: This hardened plaque cannot be removed through brushing/flossing at home and requires professional dental tools.
Our team can assess the severity of these issues and provide the appropriate treatment, whether deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing, or periodontal treatment.
Quality Care From Our Dentists
When you visit Lake Merced Dentistry for your dental cleaning in Daly City, CA, you’ll receive personalized, compassionate care from our highly skilled dentists and hygienists. We take the time to thoroughly clean every surface while making your comfort our top priority.
Dental Cleanings in Daly City, CA
If it’s been over six months since your last cleaning and exam, contact us today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Jiahua Zhu, Dr. Semi Lim, Dr. Amrit Sethi, Dr. Anne Wang, Dr. Zachary Hollander, or Dr. David Rustamzadeh. Your dental health is an investment that will pay dividends with a lifetime of healthy smiles!
