Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis) Near Me in Bar Harbor, ME

If you take good care of your teeth, you may be wondering why your dentist says you need this appointment every 6 months. There are several dental problems that you may miss at an early stage. They may not cause any pain, and may not demonstrate any visible signs. However, a dental prophylaxis appointment (teeth cleaning visit) can help your dentist diagnose these dental problems at an early stage. The term dental cleaning (prophylaxis) encompasses several techniques that are used by most dental personnel to professionally remove plaque, stain, and calculus (tartar) from patients’ teeth. Oftentimes, the toothbrush coronal polish (i.e. toothbrush and toothpaste) is a procedure that is used to remove plaque from teeth surfaces and demonstrate brushing techniques to caregivers for young kids and for patients with special needs who cannot tolerate using a rubber cup. The rubber cup coronal polish is a treatment in which a dental polishing paste is rubbed onto tooth surfaces with a rotary bristle brush or rotary rubber cup to remove plaque and stains from your teeth. Dental scaling is a procedure where hand or ultrasonic instruments are used to remove calculus or tartar and stains. Full mouth debridement may be needed as a preliminary treatment for those patients whose medical, psychological, physical, or periodontal conditions result in calculus accumulation beyond the scope of routine prophylaxis (regular teeth cleanings). These procedures expedite the clinical examination and introduce dental services to the patient. Also, the accompanying preventive appointment demonstrates proper oral hygiene techniques to the patient and/or caregivers. Flossing is an essential part of the prophylaxis that removes interproximal and subgingival (under the gum) plaque, aiding in educating the patient and enhancing the oral examination.