Dental cleaning
Dental cleanings are an important part of preventive dental care. But what is a dental cleaning? And how often should you get one?
You can learn more about this on this page, where we go in-depth about teeth cleaning, prices and other details of the treatment.
What is a dental cleaning?
A dental cleaning is - as the name suggests - a cleaning of your teeth where we remove plaque, tartar and discoloration. We do this using ultrasound, curette and pumice polishing.
During the treatment, we remove both soft plaque deposits and the hard deposits on the teeth - the so-called tartar. Finally, we polish the teeth to remove any discoloration.
The dental cleaning helps keep your gums and teeth healthy, and the treatment makes it easier for you to maintain your oral hygiene by leaving the surface of your teeth smooth and clean.
Why is dental cleaning important?
A dental cleaning removes tartar and other deposits that can cause gingivitis or, in the worst case, tooth decay. By having a dental cleaning, you can prevent dental health and disease. A dental cleaning can even treat some problems that have already occurred in your teeth.
There are many different bacteria in saliva, and if they are not removed from the surfaces of the teeth through brushing and flossing, they multiply and form small colonies.
These small, cohesive bacterial colonies are called plaque or coatings. If the plaque is not removed, it mineralizes when it meets a type of calcium phosphate, calcium phosphate, which comes from saliva. How much tartar you form is very individual, but the more bacteria you remove yourself through thorough daily home dental care, the less tartar will form.
Brushing and flossing correctly are therefore important weapons in the fight against plaque and deposits and related diseases such as caries, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Read more about how to brush your teeth correctly here.
Unfortunately, being diligent with your toothbrush and floss is not always enough. In addition, discoloration can occur on teeth due to coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, licorice, etc. Some stains have penetrated too far into the tooth to be removed, but superficial discoloration can be reduced or completely removed with a dental cleaning. Therefore, we recommend that you visit us regularly for a dental cleaning.
When do you do a dental cleaning?
A dental cleaning is typically performed as part of a regular examination. The time between cleanings can therefore vary depending on how often you visit your dentist for check-ups.
A dental cleaning removes plaque, tartar and discoloration on teeth. A dental cleaning can remove superficial discoloration and colored deposits from things like tea, coffee and tobacco, but it is not possible to remove dyes that have penetrated the enamel. However, a dental cleaning will typically give your teeth a brighter and more uniform appearance.
Most people form tartar in varying amounts. Tartar is hard plaque that is so firmly attached to your teeth that you can't remove it yourself with your toothbrush. How much tartar you form is individual and depends on your oral hygiene and genetics. Therefore, we recommend that you consult with your dentist to decide how often you should have your teeth cleaned. We typically recommend every 6-12 months.
What is tartar?
Tartar consists of calcium phosphate crystals (calcium) that are deposited on the tooth surface. Teeth are also made up of a type of calcium phosphate crystals called hydroxyapatite.
The formation of tartar occurs in three stages:
- Plaque formation on teeth
- Maturation of plaque
- Mineralization.
Tartar is incredibly hard and can be difficult to remove - even for the dentist.
Teeth cleaning with ultrasound
At Tandliv, we perform dental cleanings using ultrasound supplemented with manual scalers and curettes.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a gentle way to remove tartar and plaque. The ultrasound works by vibrating to "knock" hard and soft deposits off the tooth. The ultrasound sends water out through the tip to avoid overheating the teeth during treatment. Ultrasonic treatment has been established as the most effective and gentle method for dental cleanings.
Scalers and curettes
In addition to ultrasound, we use scalers and curettes, which are hand instruments whose purpose is also to remove soft and hard plaque. The combination of these 3 dental cleaning instruments provides the most effective and thorough treatment.
Pumice stones
When we clean your teeth - for example, during a dental cleaning - it's to remove plaque and stained deposits. This leaves the surfaces completely clean and smooth.
We use a pumice mixture, which consists of fluoride toothpaste and pumice. It feels a bit like small grains of sand, but it doesn't harm your teeth. The result is clean and possibly slightly whiter teeth.
Dental cleaning and periodontal disease
For people with periodontal disease, dental cleaning is an important part of treatment and should be performed every 3-6 months. In these individuals, the aim of dental cleaning is to halt the progression of the disease by removing hard-to-reach tartar and plaque on teeth and in the gum pocket.
An effective dental cleaning minimizes the number of disease-causing bacteria by changing the bacterial composition of the gum pocket. Once hard-to-reach plaque and tartar are removed, it will be easier to keep your teeth clean afterwards.
Price of dental cleaning
If you need a dental cleaning in Copenhagen, we at Tandliv always offer cheap dental cleaning - you can book an appointment via online booking here.
Contact us and get advice
If you have any doubts or questions, don't hesitate to contact us.
- I look forward to meeting you in the clinic.
- Dental hygienist
Born in 1978 and graduated in 2014 from the School for Clinical Assistants and Dental Hygienists in Copenhagen. Continuing education in Periodontology at the Department of Odontology and Oral Health in Aarhus 2018 and treats, among other things, severe conditions of periodontosis.
Mie is also a member of:
- Danish Dental Hygienists Association
Contact Tandliv for questions
Do you have questions about tooth cleaning, prices or the treatment process?
Contact Tandliv today and get answers to your questions.
