Dental Cleanings

Regular teeth cleanings every 6 months help prevent the onset of gum disease, cavities, and allow our Southgate, MI, dentists to detect potential issues early, leading to better treatment outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. They’re also a great time for you to ask questions and learn oral hygiene tips from the pros!

Learn more about the ins and outs of a dental cleaning below.

How Long Will a Cleaning Be?

You can expect for most routine cleanings to take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on your individual dental needs. There are different levels of cleanings, however, which can affect the length of time you’re in the exam chair. 

For example, if our dentists find that you have a more advanced case of gum disease (periodontitis), we will need to perform the scaling and root planing procedure which is a deep cleaning of the teeth and gum tissue. That form of treatment can take longer than a run-of-the-mill cleaning and involves our team working above and below the gum line.

We can also apply a fluoride treatment at the end of your cleaning or discuss dental sealants if you’re interested in putting your teeth in a better position to fight tooth decay. Ask our dentists or other team members about these options today!

Steps Involved in a Dental Cleaning

At Northline Dental, we follow the standard protocol for cleanings which can be broken down into 4 major steps. Our hygienists will be with you the entire visit and will work to complete each step until one of our dentists comes in to assess what’s been done and answer any questions you may have about your oral health or treatment needs.

In short, each dental cleaning will include the following:

1. Physical Exam: One of our hygienists will take a closer look at your entire mouth using a small mirror. This step will involve both physical touch and visual observation as we check for signs of oral cancer, gum recession, and more.
2. Plaque and Tartar Removal: Equipped with a dental tool known as a scaler, our hygienist will carefully scrape plaque or tartar buildup from each tooth and around the gum line. It might sound intimidating but this stage shouldn’t be painful.
3. Brushing/Polishing: We’ll use a high-powered electric brush topped with your chosen flavor of gritty toothpaste to scrub and polish teeth.
4. Flossing: Lastly, teeth are flossed to get rid of any toothpaste from the previous stage or leftover tartar. Problem areas (where the gums bleed) can be identified here.

Stay Up-to-Date With Your Cleanings

Our dentists serving Southgate and Greater Detroit, MI, welcome you into our office for a teeth cleaning every 6 months or sooner depending on the care your smile requires. Call Northline Dental today at (734) 284-8088 to request an appointment.