Professional Teeth Cleanings: Essential Care at Schaefer Dental Group in Lansing, Michigan
Even with faithful brushing and flossing, it’s important to have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. After a thorough cleaning, your teeth will feel smooth and clean, but the benefits go beyond just looks. These cleanings are vital for protecting your overall health.
Why Professional Cleanings are Necessary
Over time, teeth build up two things that home care alone can’t effectively remove:
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Plaque: A sticky, bacteria-rich film.
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Tartar (or Calculus): Hard deposits formed when plaque mineralizes. This is very difficult to remove without special dental tools.
When these deposits remain on the tooth surfaces or below the gum line, they create ideal conditions for harmful bacteria to grow. The acids produced by these bacteria lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If left unchecked, this can cause inflammation and infection of the gums, and may even influence systemic (whole body) diseases. Your dentist in Lansing, Michigan uses the term prophylaxis (meaning “to protect or guard against”) for these preventive procedures, emphasizing their role in preventing common oral maladies.
The Professional Cleaning Procedure
Teeth cleaning is typically performed by a dental hygienist, a highly trained technician at Schaefer Dental Group. The procedure is customized for each patient but generally follows these steps:
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Oral Examination: The hygienist first evaluates the health of your oral tissues before starting the cleaning.
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Plaque and Calculus Removal: The hygienist uses specialized tools to remove hardened deposits from the tooth surfaces.
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Ultrasonic Scaler: A hand-held tool with a tiny tip that vibrates at a very high frequency to break up deposits. A stream of liquid (lavage) simultaneously cools the tip and washes away debris.
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Curettes: Hand-held metal instruments that are curved and tapered. These may be preferred if you have sensitive teeth, as they require only moderate pressure to clean the tooth surfaces.
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Polishing: Finally, a low-speed rotary brush with a soft rubber tip is used. A slightly gritty, paste-like gel is applied, and the tip polishes the teeth, making them smooth and shiny.
A Requirement for Good Oral Health
Most people find dental cleanings comfortable, and many enjoy the smooth, clean results. If you haven’t had a cleaning in a while, your gums might be sore or bleed slightly due to existing bacterial buildup. If this occurs, it may indicate a need for improved at-home oral hygiene measures or more frequent professional cleanings.
Regular maintenance at Schaefer Dental Group in Lansing is key to preventing more complex dental procedures down the road and gives you the best chance of keeping your teeth for life.