What is involved in a professional teeth cleaning?
There are a number of options when it comes to dental cleaning. When you visit Optimum Dental, the following may generally be conducted as part of a package:
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A full oral examination
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Thorough cleaning of your teeth
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Fluoride application if the dentist deems it beneficial for you
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Bitewing x-rays
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Provision of a detailed treatment plan for any treatment
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Intraoral photography (used to document issues and their progression and show you any treatment required so you can see what we see)
At our Epping Dental Clinic, Dr Karu will assess your teeth and overall oral health and be able to advise you on which option is most suitable to your circumstances. These include:
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Regular Check-Up and Clean: If you have healthy teeth, healthy gums and no severe issues, our dentist will opt for a regular check-up and clean. A regular check-up and clean is intended to remove plaque build-up, tartar and any bacteria that may have accumulated on your teeth.
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Scale and Clean: A scale and clean is essentially a deep clean for your teeth and typically needed for those who may have more severe symptoms such as gum disease (periodontitis). Using specialised dental instruments, we clean the space between the gums and teeth (under your gum-line) where build-up has accumulated. In certain circumstances, Root Planing may be needed, however, our dentist will let you know if this may be the case.
We recommend regular dental check-ups, cleans, and fluoride treatments to protect your teeth and maintain your oral health. Regular catch and clean before they become bigger problems down the road. Areas that you miss one day is usually an area you would miss frequently, and once tartar builds up, it cannot be removed by brushing alone.
During the appointment, you can also expect our friendly staff to provide you with suggestions on how you can improve your oral hygiene. Quite often, changing the way you brush and/or floss can significantly reduce plaque and tartar build-up and reduce the need for more invasive treatment.
Getting a Dental Checkup & Clean in Epping
at
Optimum Dental
Why do I need a dentist to clean my teeth?
Optimum Dental provides a full array of dental services. The most common reason to visit our dentist at our Epping Dental Clinic is to receive a routine dental check-up and clean. Even when you brush and floss regularly, it is likely that you routinely miss little areas that are hard to reach or see. Over time, plaque builds up in these areas and hardens to become tartar. Once tartar builds up, it cannot be reversed or removed by brushing alone.
This can then lead to painful cavities, gum disease and other problems that may be uncomfortable and costly to resolve. Regular check-ups can find things that your toothbrush can’t. When you see your dentist, they will be able to inspect each individual tooth carefully and identify any build-up (especially in areas that are hard to reach or hard to see) and using specialised tools, we can remove the build-up that brushing alone cannot remove.
At Optimum Dental, Dr Karu and the team truly believe in “prevention is better than a cure” so regular check-ups and professional cleaning are highly recommended to maintain your dental health. This way, you can avoid the need for major dental work in the future, which is far more cost-effective than allowing problems to go on undetected. With preventative dentistry, Dr Karu can catch potential problems before they get worse or develop into secondary issues and diseases that often cause discomfort, aches and/or pains.
Does it hurt to get my teeth cleaned by a dentist?
The short answer is no! Teeth cleaning is typically pain-free and leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean. You may experience some minor discomfort if your gums are inflamed or you have severe build-up that needs a deeper clean. A good indicator is whether you experience any discomfort when you brush your teeth at home.
Should you need a deep clean, a local anesthetic may be used to ensure that you remain comfortable and pain-free for the duration of the procedure.
During your clean, Dr Karu will be carefully inspecting each of your teeth and identify any areas that may be extra sensitive. He will discuss this with you and may suggest a local anesthetic depending on your situation.
Once the clean is done, Dr Karu will advise you on the areas you may need to pay extra attention to during your normal brushing routine. These would have been the areas with the most build-up during the clean. If there are any other causes for concern, this will be discussed with you and a treatment plan created to help you resolve them.
Book your dental check-up today!
Optimum Dental is conveniently located in the heart of Epping. Our friendly team would love to help you with all your dental needs. Let us help you with a dental check-up and clean, assess your oral health and help you with any dental concerns you might have!
Come see us today or schedule an appointment by calling us or using our online bookings system below.
How frequently do I need to get my teeth professionally cleaned?
The Australian Dental Association recommends half yearly check-ups and cleans to maintain optimal dental health. This is a good recommendation and it allows us to discover and remove plaque and tartar deposits, carry out screenings and uncover and fix any cavities that may have formed. If your last dental appointment was more than six months ago, we recommend you get in contact with our friendly team at Optimum Dental and we will get you back on track to achieving healthy teeth and gums! There's no judgement, only professional and compassionate care from an experienced team that is passionate about your dental health outcomes.