Professional teeth cleanings are important for maintaining your oral health. Regular teeth cleanings remove plaque that builds up on your teeth between brushing and dental visits. If not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
One of the most common excuses given for why people don’t get their teeth cleaned regularly is that they are too busy and don’t have time to go to the dentist. How long does a teeth cleaning take? The answer may surprise you.
Average Length of a Teeth Cleaning Appointment
The entire appointment, from the time you walk into the dental office and walk back out again, is typically about an hour. The actual cleaning may only take 30 minutes or less. This means that you may be able to get your teeth cleaned during your lunch break from work.
How Often Should You Get Your Teeth Cleaned?
Dentists and the entire dental community agree that teeth cleanings should take place at least every 6 months for optimal dental health. Why 6 months? Because the average patient will develop some plaque in this amount of time between appointments, but not so much that it becomes a problem in most cases.
If you are brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, you may not develop much plaque at all on your teeth between cleanings. But even with good brushing and flossing habits, plaque may still form in hard to reach areas of the mouth. Teeth cleanings every 6 months will remove plaque before it can cause decay or gum disease in most cases.
Teeth Cleanings Are Covered by Dental Insurance
The majority of dental insurance plans cover teeth cleanings at 100% twice a year. If you have dental insurance, you most likely won’t pay anything out of pocket for regular teeth cleanings. All you have to do is schedule an appointment and show up in order to take control of your own dental health.
What Does a Teeth Cleaning Entail?
A teeth cleaning typically involves the following:
- Plaque removal. Dental tools are used to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) from your teeth.
- Flossing. Your teeth will be professionally flossed to remove plaque from between the teeth and along the gumline.
- Polishing. A rotating buffer and toothpaste is used to polish the teeth until they are smooth.
- Oral evaluation. At the end of your teeth cleaning your dentist will check over your teeth and mouth to ensure that all is healthy and well. This also includes an oral cancer screening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Cleanings
Do teeth cleanings hurt?
Getting your teeth cleaned should not hurt at all. The only time you may experience some discomfort is if you have gum disease that is causing irritation of your gum tissue. In this case we work carefully to prevent further irritation.
Can I still get a teeth cleaning without insurance?
If you don’t have insurance, teeth cleanings are very affordable. We accept a wide variety of payment options, including HSA and FSA accounts.
Schedule a Teeth Cleaning Appointment Today
If you have not had a professional teeth cleaning in the past 6 months, you are due for an appointment. Barkoff Dental welcomes new and returning patients no matter how long it has been since your last cleaning. We are excited to be your dental home and provide for your dental care needs.
Call 516-921-1133 or contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.