1. Scaling, or remove plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces
2. Root planning, or clean perio pockets to stop further gum problem
3. Polish, or the finishing touch of polishing the surface of the teeth

Scaling

Scaling is done by hand by one of the best dental hygienists. With the advance of technology and the new research, dental cleanings are much more important and must be done with the utmost care. With the new research and new findings coming out everyday, periodontal disease has been shown to increase health risks such as Heart disease, Diabetes, and Low birthrates., just to name a few. So a cleaning is just not just a cleaning, it could be a life saver.

Root planning

Root planning is used to treat perio conditions (moderate to advanced gum diseases).

When gum is inflamed, gum pockets become deeper, and they lose bone connections inside. The deeper pockets are, the easier it is for them to trap plaque deposits and make gum worse. The perio pockets really need to be cleaned up in order to stop further inflammation. Root planning means to insert the pointy front of the handle scalers into below the gum pockets to clean buildup.

If after root planning, your gum pockets don´t close up, i.e. the depth of the pockets remains too much, we will suggest you to undergo perio surgeries in order for the perio pockets to get better.

Polishing

There basically are two kinds of polisher: (1) prophy jet polishing and (2) rubber tip polishing with prophy paste.

Prophy jet polishing works by spraying high pressured water mixed with baking soda paste onto the surface of your teeth.. Powered water can wash away the residue and plaque, while the baking soda can remove brown and yellow stains and neutralize the acidic conditions of your mouth.

Rubber cup polishing employs a low-speed hand piece with a rubber cup tip mounted on the top. Inside the rubber cup is polishing paste, which contains abrasive ingredients for removing stains and fluoride for strengthening tooth enamel. The rubber cup is spinning slowly on the surface of the teeth. Also, the paste even comes with many pleasant flavors, such as mint, grape, watermelon, etc.

Both polishing procedures above can polish stains away efficiently, and can be used to remove heavy stains if any.

Estimates for length of treatment

The amount of time needed for dental cleaning depends on factors from plaque deposits, the complication of dental restorations, if any, and your gingival health, etc. Of course patients with more tartar and plaque buildup need longer appointment than those who have relatively cleaner teeth.

In a moderate case, with moderate plaque accumulation, dental cleaning should take about 40 to 60 minutes.

Recalls

People who build up small amouts of plaque and calculus should usually go every six months for dental cleaning and check-up. That´s twice a year and is what most dental insurance plans cover. But the frequency of recall for dental cleaning really depends on individual cases. Some people tend to have much quick tartar buildup than others. Some might have poor oral hygiene or bad gum situation. And for these people, the rule of thumb is to get professional cleaning more frequently. But do consult with with us.