You do your best to clean and care for your smile at home, but are you complementing this care with professional treatment? Regularly scheduled professional cleanings help to keep your smile feeling fresh and clean and looking great.
Our Glendale dentists will help you figure out how often you need to come in for professional cleanings. The general recommendation from the American Dental Association is that patients complete professional cleanings every six months or so. However, people with ongoing oral health issues may benefit from coming in more frequently.
So, what happens at these semi-annual cleanings? Well, the short answer is a lot of things!
First of all, our dentist is going to remove the plaque and tartar that has accumulated on your teeth throughout the past few months. Despite our best efforts, some oral bacteria and plaque inevitably escape our brushing and flossing efforts. As time goes on, plaque compounds and calcifies on the dental enamel; you’ll need our dental team to help you clear it away.
During your appointment, we’ll also assess your mouth for any signs of dental damage and oral infection. We can spot issues that are otherwise undetectable to the naked eye. Professional cleanings allow our team to stay on top of even the smallest changes to your smile, and to treat dental problems before they become severe.
Part of this assessment is an oral cancer screening. Because oral cancers are most easily and effectively treated in their earliest stages, these screenings are crucial to maintaining long-term oral health.
We know that it can be easy to fall out of the habit of seeing your dentist for professional cleanings. Our Glendale dentists are here to tell you that, no matter what the current state of your smile, we can help you get the preventive and restorative care that you need.