How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take: Here’s What to Know
Photo: soloway via 123RF
Getting a routine dental cleaning is essential for maintaining oral health. If you’re new to the process, you may be anxious or wonder, “How long does a dental cleaning take?”
Most dental cleanings last 30 minutes to 1 hour. If it’s your first appointment or you need X-rays, it may take a little longer. Be assured, our goal is to help you feel comfortable during your visit to Sanitas Family Dentistry and provide expert care that prioritizes your oral well-being and promotes best oral hygiene practices.
To help put you at ease, we’ll share some dental hygiene fun facts, then discuss what happens during a dental cleaning. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect. We’ll also cover dental hygiene tools and technology, as well as the benefits of regular dental cleanings and checkups.
Fun Facts About Dental Hygiene and Teeth
Since dental hygiene focuses on promoting good oral health habits and protecting your smile, you might get a grin out of some of these fun facts about dental hygiene and teeth.
Ancient civilizations started rubbing their teeth with thin twigs that had frayed ends, called “chew sticks,” as early as 3000 BC.
The modern toothbrush wasn’t produced until 1938, but early bristle toothbrushes were invented in China around 1498 and contained coarse hairs from the back of a boar’s neck tied to bone or bamboo “handles.”
Egyptians cleaned their teeth with a powdery mix of crushed eggshells, oxen hooves, and water.
Irene Newman became the first licensed dental hygienist in 1917. She was trained by Dr. Alfred Fones in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Fones founded the first dental hygiene school in 1913. Fones and Newman instructed students at the school.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body — even harder than your bones. It’s also the only part of your body that can’t heal itself.
Sea-dwelling “umbrella slugs” earn top honors for the species with the most teeth, going through 750,000 of them in their lifetime.
Humans only grow two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first is a set of 20 baby teeth that start forming before birth. The second is a full set of 32 permanent teeth.
An adult set of permanent teeth typically includes eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and 12 molars. The molars are your large, flat, upper, and lower back teeth (three on each side), and you use them to crush and grind food.
Every person’s set of teeth is unique — just like your fingerprints.
What Is a Routine Dental Cleaning?
Another name for a routine dental cleaning is a “prophylaxis.” Dental cleanings are a crucial part of maintaining optimal oral health and preventing cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues.
A typical dental cleaning appointment includes an oral exam and is conducted in a dental office. A licensed dental hygienist will perform the cleaning. Its purpose is to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth to help keep them and your gums healthy.
What Happens During a Cleaning at the Dentist's Office?
If you’re wondering, “What is a cleaning at the dentist?” Or “What does a teeth cleaning do?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Many people may feel anxious about going to the dentist for a cleaning, especially for the first time.
At Sanitas Family Dentistry, we believe in educating our patients about dental procedures. We will happily address any questions you may have to make you feel more comfortable about your visit before we begin treatment.
Step One: Initial Oral Exam
The goal of a routine dental cleaning is to remove harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your teeth to help prevent tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis (gum inflammation).
During your cleaning appointment, you will lie back in a comfortable dental chair that raises and lowers, allowing your hygienist to easily access your teeth.
The hygienist will start by performing an initial oral examination using a small mirror to look for any issues to alert the dentist to. If they see something serious, they will pause and consult with the dentist to determine how to proceed.
Otherwise, they’ll move on to the next step.
Step Two: Removing Plaque and Tartar
After the initial exam, the hygienist may begin with a pre-procedural rinse. Then, they will use a special set of tools to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth, between your teeth, and gums.
Plaque is a sticky substance that coats your teeth when bacteria, saliva, and acid mix in your mouth while you eat.
Regular brushing and flossing can help remove plaque between dental hygiene appointments. Plaque that is not removed regularly hardens and forms tartar (aka calculus), which usually requires professional hygienist removal.
During this step, your hygienist uses special tools to remove plaque and tartar and examine your teeth and gums. They are:
Probe – This is like a small metal ruler that measures the space between your gums and teeth to determine gum health.
Dental Explorer – This can sometimes be on the other end of the probe. Dentists and hygienists both use this tool. They check the surfaces of your teeth for sticky spots, which may be signs of tooth decay, and the sides of your teeth to look for tartar.
11/12 Explorer – This tool does an even better job of getting in teeth crevices to look for tartar buildup before and after the cleaning.
Scalers – Patients might call these hand instruments “scrapers." Hygienists use different scalers for different teeth. For example, anterior scalers are for your front teeth, which you see when you smile. Posterior scalers are for your back teeth. The pointy ends of scalers remove plaque and tartar.
Curette – This is another type of scaler that is less pointy, and hygienists can use it to go below the gumline.
Gracey Curettes – These special types of curettes are used to go in precise, particular tooth locations.
Ultrasonic Scaler – This tool uses a combination of water and vibrations to remove plaque, tartar, and stains. Low settings are for light buildup, and high settings are for heavy buildup.
Saliva Ejector – This is a straw-like tool to suction air and saliva during a cleaning to keep your mouth dry.
Advanced Technology Tools at Sanitas Dentistry
Sanitas Dentistry proudly uses cutting-edge dental technology to deliver the most effective, efficient, and comfortable treatments:
Air Powder Polisher – For patients with sensitive teeth or who want a gentler option for stain removal, this high-tech tool uses a gentle stream of air and fine powder to remove plaque and stains, providing a thorough and comfortable cleaning experience.
Laser Bacterial Reduction - Our advanced laser technology targets harmful bacteria in the gums, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of gum disease. The laser is precise, non-invasive, and enhances your overall oral health without the discomfort of traditional methods.
Step Three: Polishing
After removing plaque and tartar with a combination of hand and ultrasonic instruments, the hygienist polishes each of your teeth on all surfaces with an electric rotary polishing tip. They will use a gritty polishing paste in a variety of flavors to ensure your mouth tastes fresh and your teeth are shiny after your cleaning.
Step Four: Flossing
Once your teeth are cleaned and polished, the hygienist flosses between your teeth with dental floss to catch any residual plaque that might linger in teeth crevices. It also allows the hygienist to identify any issues with bleeding gums.
Photo: milkos via 123RF
Step Five: Final Rinse
As a last step, the hygienist will squirt water in your mouth, ask you to swish, and then suction to remove the water from your mouth. This final rinse also removes any residual bits of tooth polish.
Congratulations — you’re done with your professional dental cleaning!
Dental Exam with the Dentist
Before you leave the dental chair, the dentist will come in and do a final dental exam. If they don’t find any issues, you are all set to schedule your next routine dental cleaning appointment at whatever your dentist or hygienist suggests. This is typically set for six months into the future.
How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
If it seems like we’ve described a lot of steps or procedures, you might be wondering, “How long does it take for a dental cleaning?”
The good news is that most normal dental cleanings take about 30 minutes to one hour. In some cases, however, deeper cleanings, heavy buildup, or other issues may require a longer appointment or multiple appointments.
The better oral hygiene habits you practice at home, the less buildup you will accumulate between cleanings, and the less time your hygienist will need to clean your teeth.
Benefits of Doing Regular Routine Dental Cleanings
There are multiple benefits to routine dental cleanings, every six months or as recommended by your dentist or hygienist. Here are some of the advantages:
Helps prevent cavities and gum disease
Allows dental professionals to spot non-symptomatic issues before they get worse
Reaches hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and gums that your toothbrush might miss
Allows vital screenings for signs of tumors, oral cancer, and other oral health concerns like gum recession, bite issues, or early signs of infection
How Often Do You Need Dental X-Rays?
Dental x-rays are radiographic images of your teeth and jaws, taken at the dental office.
Patients typically don’t need dental X-rays at every routine cleaning appointment. If your teeth and gums are healthy, you may only need X-rays every six to 18 months.
Like routine dental cleanings, dental X-rays are an essential part of maintaining good oral health. Dentists use X-rays to detect a variety of oral health issues, including:
Cavities on tooth surfaces and between teeth
Bone loss in your jaws
Tooth abscesses/infections
Impacted or unerupted teeth
Tooth decay under existing fillings
Cysts, tumors, or signs of oral cancer
To track the healing process after a root canal or bone graft
To determine if you’re a candidate for orthodontic procedures like braces or other procedures like implants
Best Oral Hygiene Practices Between Dental Cleanings
Good oral hygiene habits not only protect your teeth and gums, but maintaining oral health is also linked to whole-body health.
For example, mouth infections can flow into your bloodstream and carry bacteria to other parts of your body. This can lead to serious health concerns like heart disease, stroke, and pneumonia, to name a few.
Between dental cleanings, make sure you:
Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush.
Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash.
Floss daily and after meals.
Avoid eating and drinking sugary foods and beverages that are high in added sugar.
Avoid eating starchy snacks that cling to your teeth.
Avoid acidic foods, fruits, and beverages that can harm your enamel.
At Sanitas Family Dentistry, we are dedicated to protecting your teeth and preserving your smile! Call us today at (303) 449-8875 to schedule a routine in our Boulder office.