Dental Cleanings
Dentist Muncie
 Teeth cleaning is a regular part of our patients’ care at Advanced Family Dentistry. Even with regular brushing and flossing, it is still necessary to schedule a cleaning in our office at least every six months to keep your smile bright and your teeth healthy. Routine cleanings are usually pain-free and quick. As part of your dental visit, we will also check for cavities or any other issues so that we can take care of them before they become bigger problems.
What is Involved in a Cleaning?
Plaque and other unwanted debris build up on the teeth normally as a result of eating and drinking. Smoking and chewing tobacco also contribute to this buildup. While brushing and flossing are important for clearing this debris, it is impossible for you to clear all of it on your own. That is where we come in. When you visit our office, we will gently scrape the plaque and tartar off with a specialized scaling tool. This includes on the surface of the teeth, front and back, as well as between the teeth down to the gumline.
After the cleaning, we apply a polishing substance to brighten the teeth so that they appear vibrant and healthy. The entire process will not take more than an hour. You can resume eating and drinking as soon as you leave our office.
Occasionally, while examining your mouth, we may identify additional buildup deeper in the gums. This requires a more extensive "deep cleaning" which you can either choose to begin the same day or to schedule to perform the cleaning another day, depending on time constraints.
What is a Deep Cleaning?
Periodontal disease involves bacteria and other debris that has accumulated in the gums. In these cases, leaving this unattended can cause potentially serious health concerns, such as the bacteria entering the bloodstream and gum recession. To clean them, we perform a procedure called "root planing" that removes all the debris in the gums. We usually anesthetize your mouth to prevent pain during this process. Because it is not recommended to numb your entire mouth at once, we will perform the deep cleaning on one side of your mouth and schedule an additional visit to take care of the other side.
After the deep cleaning, most times your gums should recover fully and you should regain full function and appearance of your gums. We may schedule a follow-up appointment to make sure the gums have rebounded and that you have no further issues with your gums until your next regular check-up.
If you think you need a routine cleaning or have not had one in more than six months, do not wait to schedule an appointment with our office. Feel to contact our team at Advanced Family Dentistry at (765) 287-5338 during normal business hours. We will take the time to discuss your concerns, answer any questions or concerns you may have, and set a time for you to come in. We are here to make your smile as vibrant and healthy as possible. |
