Regular Dental Cleanings vs. Ultrasonic

Having your teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist is one of the most proactive steps you can take to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile for life. At Soothing Dental, our trusted team is committed to making sure caring for your smile is as convenient and comfortable as possible. That’s why we’re proud to offer the regular dental cleanings we’re all familiar with and ultrasonic dental cleanings. Before scheduling your next routine dental checkup and cleaning, here’s what you should know about the differences between the two.

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What is a Dental Cleaning?

Professional dental cleaning is a preventative treatment that a dental hygienist performs. People need to have their teeth cleaned at the dentist at least every six months to prevent common oral health concerns from developing, including tooth decay and gum disease. They work by removing sticky plaque and tartar buildup that forms when bacteria and food particles are left behind from poor oral hygiene habits.

A thorough dental cleaning removes plaque deposits and usually takes about half an hour to complete, depending on the condition of your mouth. Here’s what you can expect during your dental cleaning at Soothing Dental:

• The dental hygienist will use a special tool to manually scrape plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth and around your gum line.
• Next, they will carefully floss between your teeth to remove any debris left behind.
• Then, they will apply a fluoride paste to polish and protect your teeth until your next dental visit.

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What is Ultrasonic Cleaning?

Ultrasonic cleaning is a progressive way to clean your teeth at the dentist’s. Like professional tooth cleaning, ultrasonic cleanings are performed to remove dental plaque and tartar buildup, which can lead to serious dental problems if left untreated. Rather than a manual scaler, however, ultrasonic scalers use vibrations in combination with a stream of water, called a lavage, to effectively remove buildup from the surface of your teeth.

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How Do Both Dental Cleaning Types Differ?

While regular dental and ultrasonic cleanings are both effective options to protect the well-being of your smile by removing sticky plaque and tartar build-up that is impossible to remove with at-home brushing, there are some key differences between the two. Thorough Ultrasonic cleaning typically takes a fraction of the time regular dental cleanings do. Additionally, ultrasonic cleanings are painless, whereas regular tooth cleaning may cause discomfort as the buildup is manually scraped from your teeth, but both keep disease-causing bacteria away. The scalers used in ultrasonic cleanings can also be adjusted to ensure your treatment is as comfortable as possible.

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What Are the Different Types of Ultrasonic Scalers?

At Soothing Dental, we use two types of ultrasonic scalers to meet the unique needs of your mouth. These include:

• Magnetostrictive Model: This scaler has vibrations that include 25,000-30,000 cycles per second and a head that moves in a circular motion.
• Piezoelectric Scaler Model: This scaler has vibrations that include 28,000-36,000 cycles per second and a head that moves back and forth.

Dr. Vinton and his team can determine the most effective way ultrasonic scaling instruments would be most appropriate to help you achieve clean teeth and a more radiant smile.

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Schedule Your Dental Cleaning at Soothing Dental

Keeping your smile in tip-top shape doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or difficult. At Soothing Dental, our friendly team is eager to show you how simple caring for your smile can be. Ultrasonic dental cleanings can protect your smile from cavities and periodontal disease more comfortably and conveniently. Contact us today to schedule your six-month dental checkup with one of our dental professionals and learn more about how an ultrasonic dental cleaning could benefit you.