So many people dread going to their dentist and getting their teeth cleaned. Between the jaw discomfort, crazy noises it’s understandable why people don’t look forward to getting their teeth cleaned. But for some people, a teeth cleaning appointment is fun and painless. Understanding and knowing what exactly is going on during the teeth cleaning appointment can help people relieve stress and allow them to enjoy the appointment a little bit more. Below I will explain about the whole process of teeth cleaning as well as the dental cleaning cost.
Oral Exam
You will first start your teeth cleaning appointment with an exam. All teeth cleaning appointments will be done by a dental hygienist. Before they actually start cleaning your teeth, your dental hygienist will first do a full exam of the whole mouth. The hygienist will use a little mirror so he or she can look around gums and teeth to look for any signs that can potentially be a concern. If the dental hygienist detects any major issues, they will then call the dentist to come and take a look at it before they proceed.
Plaque And Tartar Removal
Again using the small mirror to help the hygienist look inside your mouth, the hygienist will use a scaler to scrape off any built up plaque and tartar. The plaque and tartar are always around your gum line and between your teeth. You will hear the scraping noises, but that is completely normal. The more tartar and plaque they find in your mouth, the more time they will spend scraping it off. You can help prevent the build up by properly brushing and flossing your teeth. Once you have built up tartar and plaque on your teeth, you can only have it removed professionally at your dental office. So it’s very important that you brush and floss every day.
Cleaning
After the hygienist completely scrapes off all the tartar, he or she will then start to brush your teeth with a gritty toothpaste and a powerful toothbrush. This part can make a lot of grinding noise. While it might be loud and sound scary, it’s the best way to get a full clean and remove any leftover tartar that didn’t get removed with the scaler. The toothpaste that the hygienist uses will usually taste like normal toothpaste that you use at home, but there are other flavors that you can choose from.
Flossing
After your teeth get brushed, your hygienist will then start to floss between your teeth. Getting your teeth flossed at the dentist is nothing like flossing them at home. The hygienist can get very deep between the teeth and get some spots that might potentially get missed at home.
Cost
The cost of teeth cleaning for an adult can cost anywhere between $50 to $200 and that will depend if you’re using dental insurance or not. Some dental insurance might even cover the whole cost but it all depends on what kind of insurance you have, either way, it is completely worth it to pay for a professional cleaning.