Step 1: Physical Oral Exam 

Before the actual cleaning process begins, we will start with a physical oral exam of your entire mouth. Using a small mirror, we check around your teeth and gums for any potential concerns, from gingivitis (inflamed gums) to possible tooth decay.

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Step 2: Removing Plaque and Tartar  

With the small mirror to guide us, we gently use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from around the gum line and in between the teeth.  It's normal to hear scraping and the more tartar that is in your mouth, the more time is needed to scrape a particular spot.  

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Brushing and flossing helps prevent plaque buildup from hardening into tartar.  Once you have tartar, it can only be removed at the dentist's office. 

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Step 3: Toothpaste Cleaning  

Once your teeth are completely tartar free, we brush them with a high-powered electric brush.  Our toothpaste is also a little bit grittier than store-bought toothpaste, which gently scrubs and polishes your teeth and gives your mouth a deep clean.  After we've finished, you will be given a mouthwash solution to help remove any leftover debris. 

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Step 4: Fluoride Treatment  

The last step is a fluoride treatment, which is used as a protectant for your teeth and helps fight against cavities.  Once you've picked your flavor, we'll place a foamy gel into a mouthpiece that fits over your teeth.  This is typically left on your teeth for approximately one minute. 

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Other Potential Steps  

We recommend scheduling a professional teeth cleaning twice a year.  Depending on what the dentist observes in your mouth, X-rays or other examination procedures may be required.  For example: the dentist may recommend molar sealants for children to help prevent cavities in hard-to-brush areas.  We will be happy to discuss in advance any additional steps that may be necessary for optimal oral health.