Daily brushing and flossing, a balanced diet, and routine visits to the dentist are important to maintain a strong and healthy smile. At Seaport Family Dentistry, we have the training to identify dental disease and special tools to safely remove harmful plaque and tartar that have accumulated along your teeth and under the gumline. We can do this during regular and deep cleanings.
What Is a Regular Dental Cleaning?
We recommend that all patients get a regular dental cleaning twice a year. Known as a “prophylaxis cleaning,” your dental hygienist will clean plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth and along your gumline. We’ll also polish and floss your teeth. After a cleaning, your dentist will come in and perform an exam. On average, a regular cleaning takes between 30 minutes to an hour. If you take great care of your teeth at home, you might only ever need regular cleanings.
What Is a Deep Cleaning?
We perform deep cleanings when a patient has gum disease as part of their periodontal therapy. These are more extensive than regular cleanings, so we may administer a local anesthesia to numb your mouth. During a deep cleaning, we’ll remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline like we do during a regular appointment. We’ll also clean deep below the gumline. You may have many pockets that are filled with bacteria and debris where your gums have detached from your teeth. These cleanings take 1-2 hours and sometimes need to be divided into two appointments. After a deep cleaning, you may feel some sensitivity for a few days.
Personalized Dental Care
At Seaport Family Dentistry in Liberty, MO, our team is committed to providing the best dental experience for each one of our patients. Whether you need a regular cleaning or a deep cleaning to address gum disease, we’re here to help you have a healthy smile. If you have any questions about our professional dental cleanings or if you need to schedule an appointment at our office, please contact us today!
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