Professional Teeth Cleaning at our Northern San Antonio Dental Office
Dental cleanings are an essential component of the comprehensive dental care we provide and are vital to maintaining your overall dental health. Having a regular dental cleaning and exam is considered preventive dentistry — these routine visits help identify and prevent future dental problems before they become serious.
By coming in on a regular six-month schedule for a cleaning with our dental hygienist, you are investing in your oral health and helping to prevent problems down the road, like gum disease and tooth loss.
What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning
A professional dental cleaning is performed by a trained dental professional — our dental hygienist — using a specific sequence of steps designed to thoroughly clean areas that brushing and flossing at home cannot fully reach.
The hygienist begins by removing plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth and along the gum line using specialty hand tools and an ultrasonic scaler. Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth daily.
American Dental Association’s video on plaque – and how when left untreated it leads to tartar buildup and potential gum disease
When plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar — a calcified deposit that can only be removed by a dental professional during a professional cleaning. Tartar buildup at the gum line is a primary driver of periodontal disease and gum recession.
Following scaling, your teeth are polished with a mildly abrasive professional paste that removes surface stains and smooths the enamel, making it harder for plaque to adhere between visits. Flossing is then performed to clean between the teeth and just below the gum line in areas the scaler may not have fully reached.
Depending on your age, cavity risk, and clinical findings, your hygienist may also apply a fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and reduce the risk of tooth decay — particularly important for patients who are prone to cavities. Dental sealants may also be discussed as a preventive option, especially for younger patients with deep grooves in the back teeth where decay commonly starts.
These hygiene visits typically last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. At the end of your visit, you will have that amazing full-mouth clean feeling that only a professional cleaning provides.
Dental Exam and Checkup
A dental exam follows the teeth cleaning. This comprehensive exam is where Dr. Jabbour, your general dentist, takes an in-depth look at your teeth, gums, and surrounding bone structure. He checks for signs of tooth decay, evaluates existing restorations like dental fillings and crowns, and assesses gum health for any signs of periodontal disease.
The exam also includes an oral cancer screening — a quick visual and physical check of the soft tissues of the mouth that takes only a few minutes and is an important part of every preventive visit.
Regular Cleanings vs. Deep Cleanings
For patients with excessive plaque buildup or active periodontal disease, a standard cleaning may not be sufficient. In these cases, a deep cleaning — called scaling and root planing — is recommended. This procedure goes below the gum line to remove bacterial deposits from the tooth root surface, which is necessary to halt gum disease progression.
Deep cleanings sometimes require multiple visits depending on the extent of the disease. Our hygienist evaluates your gum health at every preventative dental cleaning visit and will recommend a deep cleaning if the clinical findings support it.
Our Dentistry Services May be Covered by Your Insurance Plan
We accept most major insurance plans — and we also accept patients without insurance. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive cleanings and exams at 100%, making your six-month checkup one of the most cost-effective investments in your health. To confirm your coverage, call our office at (210) 314-7949.
Dental Cleanings Frequently Asked Questions
We frequently get asked questions about dental cleanings and have created a couple of articles for you to peruse that are presented below. If you have any other questions about dental cleanings, please let us now.
Don’t Wait – Set up a Teeth Cleaning Appointment Now
We offer quality dental care for Stone Oak and northern San Antonio. The American Dental Association recommends seeing a general dentist regularly for preventive care. Proper home care and regular dental office visits can potentially reduce your chances of tooth decay and more serious dental issues down the road.
Call us now to get a professional cleaning and dental exam. We do sometimes run teeth cleaning specials as part of new patient special offerings. To see what is currently available, check out our current new patient specials.
