A teeth cleaning is a key element of professional dental care. You should see your dentist for teeth cleanings every 6 months or twice a year. Many patients will also be on three month or four month cleanings, depending on their perioidontal needs.
If you have an upcoming teeth cleaning or need to make an appointment, you may be wondering how long it will take so you can make plans to fit it into your schedule. Here’s what you can expect for an average teeth cleaning.
What Does a Teeth Cleaning Entail?
A teeth cleaning appointment at your dentist’s office will include the following steps:
- Oral examination. A thorough oral examination will be performed by your dentist to check for any oral health concerns or abnormalities.
- Plaque and calculus removal. Dental tools will be used to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) from your teeth.
- Flossing. Your teeth will be professionally flossed to reach the spaces between the teeth and along the gumline.
- Polishing. A rotating electric polisher is used to smooth the surface of your teeth so that they shine.
- Dental X-Rays (yearly). On a yearly basis you will have dental X-Rays taken of your teeth and jaw to detect cavities and other oral health concerns below the surface.
Average Length of a Teeth Cleaning
A routine dental cleaning will typically take no more than 60 minutes. If dental X-Rays are taken your appointment may be a few minutes longer. In most cases you can easily fit a teeth cleaning in during your lunch break from work or without taking any paid time off.
What is a Deep Teeth Cleaning?
Some patients will need a deeper cleaning of their teeth that goes beyond a basic cleaning. Deep cleaning not only removes plaque and calculus from the visible surface of the teeth, it also gets below the gums to the roots of your teeth. Patients with periodontal disease may have a buildup of plaque under their gum tissue, and a deep cleaning is the first step in managing the condition. A deep cleaning typically involves two procedures:
- Scaling. Scaling is the process of removing hardened plaque from the roots of the teeth.
- Root planing. After the calculus is removed the root surface is often uneven or rough. Root planing smooths the root surface to allow the gum tissue to reattach more firmly to prevent further buildup of plaque under the gums.
Average Length of a Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning will typically take anywhere from 1-2 hours at a time. If you need extensive deep cleaning, the process will be split between 2 appointments so that you won’t have to spend as much time in the dental chair in one sitting. After the first deep cleaning, subsequent cleanings may be required, but should not take as long.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Cleanings
How often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?
The dental community agrees that the average patient should have their teeth cleaned at least every 6 months. For patients with periodontal disease, more frequent cleanings may be recommended. A common schedule is every 3 months. Usually patients will alternate between the Periodontist and their regular dentist.
Is a teeth cleaning covered by insurance?
A routine dental cleaning is typically fully covered by most dental insurance plans. A deep cleaning may be partially covered by insurance, but there is typically an out of pocket balance remaining after insurance.
Periodontal Maintenance at Holzinger Periodontics
Holzinger Periodontics & Dental Implants provides deep cleanings for patients who need a more advanced level of care. Our periodontal maintenance programs are customized to meet your specific needs on a schedule that works for you.
Contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.