How Often Should You Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

Maintaining your dental health doesn’t just mean following a good at-home oral hygiene routine. You must also schedule an annual dental exam and biannual dental cleanings at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County to reduce your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. During a dental cleaning at our State College, PA office, our general dentist will remove plaque, tartar, and food particles left in your mouth, which helps reduce your risk of developing oral health problems. A visit to the dentist for a teeth cleaning is one of the best ways to take care of your teeth. We recommend our patients have their teeth cleaning at least twice a year. For those with gum disease or other oral health issues, more frequent routine dental cleanings are necessary.

What happens during teeth cleaning near me?

During teeth cleaning at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, our general dentist will customize a treatment plan for every patient. This means that we will look closely at your oral health and address any issues during your cleaning. We offer preventive dentistry services that help reduce the need for serious and costly procedures in the future. Dental cleanings from our State College, PA dental team are comprehensive and include the following:

1. Medical history: We learn about your general health, any medications or supplements you take, and any prior oral health issues or surgeries.

2. Dental exam and X-rays: We usually conduct a dental exam once a year (every other teeth cleaning). These exams allow us to evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and jaw. We take X-rays that give us information about what’s going on in areas that we can’t see, including any jaw problems, failed restorations, or deep tooth decay. We also perform an oral cancer screening to look for any potential precancerous or cancerous tumors, masses, or lesions in the soft tissues in and around the mouth.

3. Prophylaxis: During a teeth cleaning, we remove plaque and tartar, both of which invite bacteria to live and produce acids in the mouth that can damage your teeth and gums. Our oral hygienist scales these materials to help reduce your risk of oral disease.

4. Gum disease evaluation: We look for signs of gum disease, and record periodontal measurements of the spaces between the teeth and gums. This allows us to identify any potential gum disease and, if found, begin treatment quickly before it worsens and advances to later stages. We also use these measurements to compare progress at each cleaning to see if your gum health is improving or worsening.

Does teeth cleaning hurt?

It shouldn’t. However, for patients with tooth decay, gum inflammation, or other gum disease symptoms, there may be increased tooth sensitivity during a teeth cleaning. Tell the hygienist if you’re feeling pain as we have a medicated gel or prescription rinse that will make you more comfortable during this preventive dentistry service.

Schedule regular dental cleanings and exams to maintain or improve your oral health

Maintaining your teeth and gums with regular dental exams and biannual teeth cleanings are important ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy. At Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, we work diligently to help our patients improve oral health in State College, PA. To schedule your teeth cleaning, call our dental office today.