The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings

At Santa Teresa Dental, we are proponents of prevention to maintain healthy smiles that last a lifetime. We are pleased to offer dental cleanings to lower the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and a host of oral health concerns. Our patient-centered team is dedicated to ensuring your visits are comfortable and free from stress.

How Often Should You Schedule Professional Dental Cleanings?

Your frequency of dental cleanings will depend on your oral health and your unique needs. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you should schedule routine checkups and cleanings based on your dentist’s recommendations. In general, individuals with healthy gums and teeth require twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings. If, however, you have signs of gum (periodontal) disease or are at a higher risk of other dental problems, Dr. Huang may recommend more frequent visits. 

What Are the Benefits of Keeping Up with Your Regular Dental Cleanings? 

While daily brushing and flossing safeguard your oral health by removing plaque, food debris, and harmful oral bacteria, it’s not always easy to clean those hard-to-reach areas between the teeth and the back of the mouth. If not removed, plaque will harden to tartar (calculus), which only a dental professional can remove. 

The following are some of the benefits of regular dental cleanings:

• Preventing Oral Health Problems: Keeping up with your routine dental exams and cleanings helps lower the risk of tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and other oral health concerns. 
• Supporting Your Overall Health: Lowering your risk of gum disease can boost your overall health because the chronic condition has been linked to health concerns, like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, respiratory problems, and even pregnancy complications. 
• Early Intervention and Treatment: Your twice-yearly dental cleanings offer an excellent opportunity to uncover early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, and other problems, allowing for early treatment and the best possible outcomes for your smile. 
• Preserving Your Natural Teeth: Gum disease and cavities are the leading causes of tooth loss, so keeping your smile healthy contributes to the longevity of your natural teeth. 
• Brightening and Whitening Your Smile: During your cleaning appointment, our hygienist will polish your teeth, removing most surface stains, so you’ll leave your appointment with a brighter, more dazzling smile. 

What Can You Expect During a Dental Cleaning Appointment? 

Regular prophylaxis cleanings are designed to clean healthy teeth to lower your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. During your visit, our dental hygienist will gently remove plaque and tartar build up over time between your teeth and along your gum line. Next is flossing to remove any remaining plaque or debris, followed by polishing your teeth to leave you with a bright smile. 

If we see warning signs of gum disease, Dr. Huang may recommend a deep dental cleaning known as scaling and root planing. The procedure involves removing any plaque or tartar from your teeth and gum line followed by cleaning your tooth root surfaces and smoothing them out to promote gum tissue healing and reattachment. Scaling and root planing can sometimes take more than one visit to complete, depending on your unique needs.

As a component of your soft tissue management plan, we may recommend using our cutting-edge laser technology to enhance your treatment outcomes. Our soft tissue dental laser targets the periodontal inflammation at the microscopic level, treating the infection at the source. The power of the focused light eliminates these hard-to-reach bacterial colonies while providing the ideal environment for healing.  

Dental Cleanings Near Me in Morgan Hill, CA

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned lately, it’s time to contact Santa Teresa Dental to schedule your appointment. Dr. Huang and our patient-centered team are dedicated to providing you with a comfortable experience. We strive to ensure our valued patients enjoy healthy smiles for a lifetime. We invite you to call us at 408-782-6568 to schedule your cleaning appointment or request one online today!