Cleaning

Dental cleaning means the professional cleaning you can only receive from a dentist or dental hygienist. A routine dental cleaning should include scaling and polishing. These important steps are outlined in detail below. The amount of time needed for dental cleaning depends on factors from plaque deposits complication of dental restorations and your gingival health. People with more tartar and plaque buildup need longer appointments than those who have relatively cleaner teeth. In a moderate case dental cleaning should take about 25 to 30 minutes. Cleaning should be performed every six months to prevent excessive plaque build up. Lack of cleaning allows the growth of plaque which if left unchecked can lead to the various types of conditions involved in tooth decay.

Scaling

This is the removal of plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces with different types of scaling being used in relation to the amount of plaque and tartar.

Polishing

This is the finishing touch of rubbing on the surface of the teeth.