Dental Cleanings

At Pike & Valega, DDS in Poolesville and Rockville, MD, our goal is to help our patients maintain their oral health. That is why we encourage our patients to schedule regular professional dental cleanings. Learn more about why professional dental cleanings are so important.

Professional Dental Cleanings Perform a “Deep Clean” of the Teeth and Gums

Brushing and flossing are great at helping to remove food particles and plaque that have accumulated on the surface of the teeth or around the gum line. However, no matter how good you are at brushing and flossing, removing all food particles and plaque is nearly impossible. That is why a professional dental cleaning is so important.

Our dental team has access to a wide variety of tools that can clean those hard-to-reach areas commonly missed with daily brushing and flossing. With the help of these tools, our dental team can clean in between the teeth and deep below the gum line.

Professional Dental Cleanings Remove Calculus and Tartar

Dental plaque is a thick, sticky substance that covers your teeth. When it first coats your teeth, it is extremely soft, making it easy to remove with regular brushing and flossing. However, if it isn’t cleared away, it will harden. When this happens, we refer to it as calculus and tartar.

Calculus and tartar is extremely strong. Once it sticks to the teeth, it cannot be removed with brushing and flossing. Instead, the only way to remove it is to use special dental tools to scrape the teeth.

Our dental team will identify areas where tartar has built up and accumulated during a professional cleaning. We will then use a wide variety of tools to remove the calculus and tartar.

Reduce Your Risk for Developing Gum Disease or Other Dental Problems

Combining brushing and flossing with professional dental cleanings reduces your risk for developing gum disease and other dental problems such as cavities or bad breath. You are less likely to experience these dental problems because you have thoroughly cleaned your mouth.

Professional Dental Cleanings Brighten Your Smile

It isn’t uncommon for our patients to leave their appointment for a professional dental cleaning with a brighter, whiter smile. This is because our dental team has access to powerful tools that can remove surface stains and discoloration from the teeth by buffing and polishing your teeth.

How Often Should You Get a Professional Dental Cleaning?

At a minimum, we recommend you get a professional dental cleaning every six months. However, if you are at risk of developing gum disease and other dental problems, we may recommend you get a professional dental cleaning every three to four months.

Some of the things we take into consideration when determining how often you should get a professional cleaning include:

Current oral health
Age
Current health history – Some medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, increase your risk of developing gum disease and other dental problems.
Dental history – You are at an increased risk of developing gum disease if you have a history of gingivitis.
Medication usage – Some medications have side effects, such as dry mouth, which can increase your risk of developing certain dental problems.

At Pike & Valega, DDS, we work with you as a team to determine your dental needs and identify potential factors that may increase your risk of developing gum disease and other dental problems. Once we identify potential risk factors, we can create a customized treatment plan that helps you maintain your oral health.