Protect Your Oral Health at Premier Novi Dental
Cleaning your teeth daily is essential for your overall health. But brushing and flossing alone aren’t the only ways to ensure excellent oral health — our top dentist in Novi, MI, recommends twice-yearly professional teeth cleaning to help maintain your overall wellness and keep your smile gleaming. Harmful bacteria called plaque and tartar need to be removed from your mouth every day to prevent decay and gum disease.
Read our article below to learn how professional teeth cleaning in Novi, MI, helps patients maintain excellent oral health.
The Importance of Professional Teeth Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning involves the removal of plaque and tartar from your teeth by a trained dental professional like Dr. Bhatia. At Premier Novi Dental, our hygienists are proud to provide high-quality teeth cleaning for each patient who walks through our doors. You’ll love how your teeth feel after your professional cleaning every six months.
By scheduling regular oral checkups and cleanings, you can greatly enhance your oral health. The benefits include:
- Supplementing your daily oral hygiene practices
- Early identification of issues such as gum disease, cavities, or oral cancer
- Prompt guidance from a skilled dentist
- Elimination and prevention of plaque and tartar buildup
What Are Plaque and Tartar?
Plaque is a thin, white film of bacteria that forms on the surfaces of your mouth. This film can collect between your teeth, under your gums, or in tiny crevices in your teeth.
When plaque is left untreated, it hardens into a sticky substance called tartar, which can only be removed using professional dental tools and techniques. Tartar causes a host of unwanted oral health problems, including:
- Gum disease — Tartar can irritate the gums, leading to inflammation and bleeding. If left untreated, gum disease can progress to periodontitis, which can cause the loss of bone mass and even teeth.
- Tooth decay — Tartar can trap bacteria and food particles, leading to the formation of cavities.
- Bad breath — Tartar buildup can produce bad-smelling compounds, leading to chronic bad breath (halitosis).
- Tooth sensitivity — Tartar can cause the gums to recede, which can lead to exposed tooth roots, making teeth sensitive to hot and cold temperatures or sweet foods and drinks.
- Discoloration — Tartar can make teeth appear yellow or brown by staining your enamel.
The Teeth Cleaning Process
Your teeth cleaning at Premier Novi Dentistry will begin with a hygienist brushing your teeth using a professional-grade electric toothbrush and high-quality fluoride toothpaste. We’ll also floss between your teeth at this time.
What Are Scaling and Root Planing?
Once we have removed all surface-level plaque, our hygienist will begin the process of scaling and root planing. The first step, scaling, involves removing plaque and tartar from your teeth using specialized dental tools. Dr. Bhatia’s team will focus on the hard-to-reach areas that regular brushing and flossing may not be able to reach.
Root planing, however, is a more specialized part of the process. We’ll generally use this procedure for patients who show the beginning signs of gum disease. When the gums recede, it causes the tooth roots to become rough and uneven. Root planing corrects this by smoothing out the tooth roots, allowing them to reattach comfortably to your teeth and preventing increased sensitivity, bleeding, or pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most dental insurance policies will cover twice-yearly dental checkups and teeth cleanings. However, it’s always wise to check your specific coverage to learn whether your plan will pay for the entire procedure. Your dentist can also give you a cost breakdown at your appointment to find out whether there will be a copay for your treatment.
Each bi-annual teeth cleaning is specialized for each patient’s needs, so the time it takes to professionally clean teeth varies from patient to patient. However, professional teeth cleanings generally last 30 to 60 minutes to complete, depending on the patient’s oral health. Ask your dentist at the beginning of your appointment if you have concerns about the timing of your teeth cleaning.
You should visit your dentist for a professional teeth cleaning appointment every six months. Scheduling a cleaning appointment allows you to fill the gaps in your daily oral hygiene routine through education and a thorough examination of your oral health.
Your dentist will also observe your mouth for any signs of more serious oral health issues, such as oral cancer or periodontitis, during your cleaning. Therefore, it’s ideal to see the dentist frequently to avoid damage to your overall wellness.
Yes, professional teeth cleaning can help patients keep their smiles bright. Both plaque and tartar can cause stains to build on teeth. Removing those harmful bacteria helps patients prevent discoloration.
Maintain Your Stunning Smile With Dr. Bhatia
At Premier Novi Dentistry, our dental team is passionate about keeping our patients’ teeth healthy and bright. Along with your daily oral hygiene routine, professional teeth cleaning is the best way to build an excellent oral environment. Reducing the amount of built-up plaque and tartar will keep your teeth whiter, breath fresher, and smile gleaming.
Learn more about teeth cleanings in Novi, MI, by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Bhatia. Call (248) 348-8808 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your visit to Premier Novi Dentistry.