Prepare for a Visit

Plaque that remains on your teeth will harden to form a substance called calculus, also called tartar. A toothbrush and dental floss will not remove tartar from your teeth. The tartar will continue to accumulate until your dentist or hygienist removes it. If left untreated, tartar can damage your teeth, dental work, gums, and jawbones.

Even with good oral hygiene, there are areas in your mouth that are more difficult to keep clean. The cheek sides of your upper back teeth and the tongue side of your lower front teeth are especially prone to tartar build-up because your major salivary glands are located in those areas (saliva contains minerals that can harden plaque into tartar). Other areas include where teeth are crooked or crowded and restorations like fillings, crowns, bridges, and orthodontics.

A professional tooth cleaning (prophylaxis) removes tartar and surface stains from your teeth. Prophylaxis also helps prevent tooth decay and reverse gingivitis, which can progress to periodontal disease. For people without periodontal disease, prophylaxis focuses on exposed teeth and does not descend beyond three millimeters below your gum line.

People assume they need professional cleanings twice per year. However, how often you need a professional tooth cleaning is based on a variety of factors. If you maintain proper oral hygiene, good nutrition, and have never had tooth decay or periodontal disease, you may need to visit the dentist less frequently. Certain risk factors may require cleanings more frequently. Some risk factors include:

• Your ability to maintain a regular oral health regimen can be impacted by physical or cognitive challenges.
• The alignment, crowding, or position of your teeth.
• Braces or other orthodontic appliances.
• Your diet, lifestyle choices, medical conditions, and any medications you take.
• The rate at which plaque and tartar accumulate in your mouth.
• The number and type of dental restorations you have.
• Your overall immune response.
• Your general health.

The steps involved in professional cleanings vary and are based on your unique situation.

Before the cleaning

• Review your health status: You will share information that will help ensure that your dentist and their staff can provide safe and effective treatment and provide appropriate post-care guidance. Get important information here: Health history and current health status.
• Antibiotics: You may be pre-treated with antibiotics if you have certain types of heart murmurs, heart valves, or replacement joints (for example, a knee or a hip) or if your immune function is compromised for any reason.
• Oral rinse: Your dentist may ask you to use an oral rinse that reduces the bacteria and viruses in your mouth.

During the cleaning

• Tartar removal: Your dentist or hygienist will use various mechanical or ultrasonic scalers to remove tartar deposits from your tooth enamel, gumline, and any exposed root surfaces.

After the cleaning

• Polishing: Traditionally, your dentist or hygienist will finish your cleaning by polishing your teeth with a paste. This process removes surface stains and makes your teeth "feel more clean." Polishing may not be necessary if you do not have stains. Some dentists prefer not to polish teeth after a cleaning since there is some evidence that it can cause abrasion to your tooth enamel.¹ Talk to your dentist about their specific advice for you.

• Professional tooth cleanings may make your teeth and gums sensitive after the procedure due to the scaling process of the tools or the vibrations produced by the ultrasonic instruments.
• If you have trouble cleaning plaque from certain areas of your mouth, your dentist can recommend and demonstrate special aids such as interdental brushes and floss threaders that can help keep these areas clean.

• To prevent dental disease, there is no alternative to maintaining good oral home health care and having your teeth professionally cleaned on a schedule recommended by your dentist.
• There is a difference between a professional tooth cleaning and periodontal maintenance (the care following treatment of periodontal disease). It is never appropriate to receive periodontal maintenance unless you have been diagnosed with, and treated for, periodontal disease.

If you delay or refuse professional cleaning, plaque will mineralize and firmly adhere to your teeth and dental work in the form of tartar. This makes proper oral care at home and future professional cleanings more difficult. Failure to properly care for your teeth ultimately leads to tooth decay, periodontal disease, and missing teeth.

• Given my dental history and risk factors, how often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?
• Am I at higher risk of tooth decay or periodontal disease? If not, do I need to get a professional tooth cleaning every six months, or can I come less frequently without risking my oral health?
• Would a local anesthetic help prevent sensitivity during my tooth cleaning?
• Are there any areas of my mouth where plaque seems to accumulate more than others? What can I do to better clean those areas?
• Do I need to have my teeth polished after my cleaning? Do all of my teeth need to be polished? Does the polish you use erode my enamel?