Practicing great oral care habits and receiving routine dental cleanings is key to maintaining excellent oral health. In our Silver Spring dental office, Dr. Rever provides our patients with regular dental cleanings. Our dental cleanings eliminate excess buildup of plaque, tartar, and debris in your mouth. As part of our general dentistry services, we offer the best patient-focused care possible.
Diligent, everyday teeth brushing can not replace a thorough deep cleaning from your dentist in Silver Spring, MD. We use high-quality materials to thoroughly clean your teeth and leave you with a fresh smile.
During your visit, we take the time to get to know you and discuss your personal dental concerns. Understanding how your lifestyle choices can affect oral health can help you make better decisions about your daily habits.
Why Do I Need a Teeth Cleaning Every 6 Months?
Does it ever frustrate you when you find a cavity despite brushing and flossing diligently? Many factors influence your oral health. Identifying your individual risk factors can reduce gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, and other dental problems. Factors that can affect oral health include:
- Genetics
- Oral hygiene habits
- Your diet and the foods you eat
- Tobacco use and smoking
- Medications
- Hormonal and weight changes
Dental cleanings are a preventative measure in dentistry. Our Silver Spring dentist strives to highlight the importance of healthy oral health habits.
Dr. Rever provides dental cleanings in conjunction with a comprehensive oral health exam. Your initial visit will include a consultation and exam, a periodontal screening, oral cancer screening, and occlusal analysis.
Dr. Rever will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums during the periodontal screening. He will also determine if you have any gum disease problems. Bleeding gums whenever you brush your teeth is a common sign of gum disease.
During the preventative exam, dentists can diagnose gum disease and tooth decay early for potential conservative treatment. Dr. Rever is an experienced Silver Spring dentist with training in complex and advanced dental treatments.
Dental Cleaning: What to Expect
Get a dental exam and teeth cleaning twice yearly to maintain great oral health. Dental exams help avoid the development of complex dental concerns down the road. In our comfortable Silver Spring dental office, our skilled dental hygienists perform full periodontal screenings and thorough dental cleanings. Those who suffer from dental anxiety have nothing to fear.
Routine screenings and cleanings are painless and standard for every patient. Our dental hygienist or dentist will begin by examining the patient’s mouth, teeth, and gums. They may also take X-rays to get a more detailed view of your teeth and jawbone.
Next, we will perform scaling, or using special tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and can cause decay and gum disease. Tartar is hardened plaque that you can’t remove by just brushing at home.
After scaling, we will polish your teeth using a gritty toothpaste and a high-powered toothbrush. This helps remove any remaining plaque and tartar. The polishing also smoothes out the surfaces of the teeth to make them less likely to attract plaque in the future.
The final step in a dental cleaning is a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen the tooth enamel and protect against decay. The fluoride treatment may come in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish that the dental hygienist applies to the teeth.
Does a dental cleaning hurt?
Dental cleanings are generally painless. However, some patients may experience mild discomfort during certain parts of the cleaning. For example, if you have not had a cleaning in a while and have infections in the mouth. If you experience any pain or discomfort during your cleaning, let our hygienist know so we can adjust our service.
How long does a dental cleaning take?
The length of a dental cleaning will depend on the patient’s oral health and the amount of plaque and tartar buildup present. On average, a routine dental cleaning typically takes between 30 minutes to an hour. However, it may take longer if it’s been a while since your last cleaning or if you have serious buildup.
Schedule a Dental Health Exam & Cleaning Today!
The health of your mouth influences your quality of life every day. We want to help you restore and maintain your oral health. Regular cleanings and treatments can help maintain healthy gums and keep your natural teeth strong and functional.
Are you looking for a Silver Spring dentist? Dr. Rever provides high-quality and compassionate dental care in a worry-free dental environment. Give us a call today at (301) 637-0960, or schedule an appointment online.