A professional teeth cleaning involves scaling to remove tartar buildup using a metal hook, polishing with an electric brush, and potentially debridement for severe cases. Tartar forms from mineralized plaque that regular brushing cannot remove, and leads to bad breath, cavities, and tooth discoloration if left untreated. Professional cleanings every six months are recommended in addition to daily brushing and flossing to prevent tartar buildup and maintain good oral health.

1. What is Involved in Having
My Teeth Professionally
Cleaned?

2. Everyone knows that brushing and
flossing at least twice daily is vital for
good dental health. Unfortunately, even
the most diligent brushing and flossing is
incapable of keeping your teeth clean and
healthy over time.

3. This is why family dentists and cosmetic
dentists alike recommend a professional
teeth cleaning at least once every six
months in addition to regular self-care
through brushing and flossing.

4. Even when you brush your teeth every
morning and every night, a regular
toothbrush is not able to remove all the
plaque that forms on your teeth during
the day and at night while you sleep.

5. The plaque you are unable to remove
builds up, and over time it mineralizes,
meaning it hardens. When plaque
mineralizes and hardens, it turns into a
substance called tartar.

6. In addition to being very unsightly,
tartar is downright impossible to
remove with regular brushing and like
plaque, it builds up over time without
professional cleanings.

7. A tartar build-up is bad news in many
ways. Tartar will give your teeth a yellow,
crusty appearance rather than the
brilliant white that is a staple of a
"million dollar smile."

8. Tartar doesn't smell too great, either,
and it's a leading culprit when it comes
to halitosis (bad breath).

9. Finally, when tarter builds up on your
teeth, it contributes to the calcium on
your tooth enamel breaking down. This
speeds up the development of cavities.

10. To prevent all this from happening, you
need to eliminate tartar with regular
professional teeth cleanings.

11. Typically, a professional cleaning begins
with tooth scaling, which your dental
hygienist will complete using a
handheld tooth scaler.

12. This is the somewhat scary-looking
metal contraption you've probably
seen at the dentist's office with the
hook-shaped metal point on one end.

13. Truth be told, this device is nothing to be
scared of and its use is not only painless
but vital for loosening up calcified tartar
so that it can be removed from your teeth.

14. The next step is tooth polishing, which is
done with a specialized electric brush
featuring a small round brushing surface
which spins rapidly as the hygienist uses
it to clean your teeth.

15. This not only removes all the remaining
tartar, but it also polishes the surface of
your teeth which makes it more difficult
for plaque to build up between now and
your next cleaning.

16. If your tartar buildup is severe, your
dental hygienist may also elect to
perform a procedure known
as debridement.

17. This is a more aggressive approach where
an ultrasonic device, periodontal scaler, or
saline solution is used to break up the
tartar which was not able to be loosened
with normal tooth scaling.

18. After this is completed, the
tartar is removed.

19. There is no reason not to schedule a
professional teeth cleaning at least
every six months.

20. For one thing, it is a very
affordable procedure.

21. In addition, modern instruments and
cleaning techniques minimize the
discomfort that used to be synonymous
with a dental visit decades ago.

22. Nowadays, most people report that
teeth cleanings are comfortable and
even pleasant.

23. The best part of a professional
cleaning, however, is walking out of
the dentist's office and being able to
flash a tartar-free, bright white smile!

24. The best part of a professional
cleaning, however, is walking out of
the dentist's office and being able to
flash a tartar-free, bright white smile!

25. If you are seeking professional dental advice,
it's time to call Shumway Dental Care.

26. Their Chandler dentists will ask you
questions, examine you, and determine
exactly what needs to be done to get you
back to normal.

27. Call today for an appointment.

28. Visit
www.shumwaydental.com

29. Shumway Dental Care
3150 S Gilbert Rd Suite 1
Chandler, AZ 85286
480-659-7800