Dental Cleanings
Family Dental Cleanings in Columbia, South Carolina
Routine professional dental cleanings and checkups are important to maintaining good oral hygiene and we have the most caring of all the Columbia dentists in Dr. David Lovit. Professional deep cleanings can remove mineralized plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. It is recommended you go in for a dental cleaning and checkup once every six months. At our Family Dentistry here in Columbia, South Carolina, we make sure to provide cost-affordable, family dental work.
How it Works
You can expect your dental cleaning to last between 30 minutes and an hour. Typically, a trained hygienist will clean your teeth, and a dentist may come in for an exam at the end. Most people find that deep dental cleanings are painless, and do not cause any discomfort, however, if you allow too much to time to pass in between cleanings and decay begins to occur, it can be a much lengthier and complicated procedure.
Procedures for Dental Cleanings and Checkups
There are two important steps to a dental cleaning.
- The first step is scaling the teeth, whereby the dentist/hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces. This can be performed by hand or with electric scalers, depending on their preference. Typically, the dentist/hygienist will also dig deep into the pockets of the gums to remove any plaque buildup there.
- The second step is polishing to remove any final plaque and also to buff the teeth. Polishers generally have several different sized heads to clean hard to reach, places. This last step also protects your teeth for a time.
It is very important to attend the dentist for a professional checkup regularly, to make sure that your teeth are clean and are functioning to their optimal level. Once your teeth begin to decay, deep pockets in your gums can form and it is very hard to restore them back to the way they were before. Decay can weaken the tooth, the surrounding teeth, and also the gum area around it.
Get into the Habit
Kids, and adults, should get into the routine of brushing their teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning, and once at night. Brushing after each meal is recommended, but a minimum of twice a day should be achieved.
Especially for kids, professional dental cleanings can be a very important habit to form. Tooth decay in baby teeth can be a very serious problem and can lead to a lot of pain if not taken care of. Many times, if cavities are not taken care of, they can spread throughout a kid’s mouth like a virus and can weaken adult teeth that are getting ready to come in. Here in Columbia, South Carolina, our dentists take pride in making sure that kids feel comfortable in our office while getting clean teeth.
Call our office in Columbia, South Carolina, today to schedule your family the dental cleanings needed at a cost that is affordable to you. In addition to getting your teeth cleaned, ask about our teeth whitening for Columbia SC options!
Dental Procedures:
General Dental Procedures
Advanced Dentistry
For the premier general and cosmetic dentistry in Columbia, Forest Acres, and Fort Jackson South Carolina Dr. Lovit and his staff can help your smile say it all.