Regular, professional teeth cleanings help to improve your dental health as well as help to prevent serious dental issues. At Old Town Smiles, our staff is dedicated to providing you with relaxed and positive dental care experiences. We offer the highest level of services to keep you comfortable while you receive your cleaning. With years of experience and many happy patients, we will deliver results that are safe and will promote your oral health.
A healthy smile is the strongest foundation for a beautiful smile, therefore; your periodontal (gums and bone) care is a priority. We customize cleanings to properly care for your specific periodontal needs. Whether a three, four or six month cleaning or full periodontal therapy, our fabulous hygienists will customize your specific needs while maintaining your absolute comfort.
The Importance of Teeth Cleaning
Regular cleanings help to keep your periodontal (gums and bone) health ideal. At Old Town Smiles we recognize that every patient is different with specific oral features. We tailor our cleanings to address your needs and maintain your comfort. Our dental hygienists are trained to be thorough and gentle because your comfort is important to us.
A teeth cleaning involves a thorough examination of your teeth and gum health while removing built-up plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar are two deposits that are bad for the health of your teeth and promote cavities, gingivitis and gum disease. Almost 80% of the population has gingivitis or inflammation of the gums somewhere in their mouth. It may initially be painless, but gum disease left untreated could ultimately lead to permanent tooth loss. Removing these deposits will help elongate the life of your teeth.
Preventing and treating gum disease is very important to your overall health. Gum disease may increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes complications, low birth weight births, and other overall health problems.
In a professional teeth cleaning, your hygienist will scale and polish your teeth. If a large quantity of tartar has accumulated, your teeth may need to be debrided. A few different instruments will be used to remove damaging deposits and provide you with clean, smooth teeth.
Oral health can be a good indication of your overall health.
Our bodies work as one machine, how your health is in one area of your body will indicate how your overall health is. Included in professional teeth cleaning is the treatment of gum disease. Your gum health is very important to your oral care but also to your general health. Gum disease increases your risk for other serious diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and other health complications. With regular check-ups, we can help you maintain good health.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Cleaning
There are many benefits to regular, professional teeth cleanings, which include:
- Improve gum health
- Decrease oral issues
- Prevent cavities
- Stop tooth loss
- Brighten your smile
- Freshen your breath
- Boost your overall health
Professional teeth cleanings are a preventative measure that will save you money in the long term. If you are interested in the myriad of health benefits regular teeth cleanings can provide for you, contact our offices today to schedule your appointment!
Candidates
Patients of all ages are welcome and encouraged to receive professional teeth cleanings. If you are experiencing rough teeth, this may be a sign of tartar and plaque build up. Cleaning can help remove those damaging build-ups and decrease your chances of developing cavities. Other signs you may be an ideal candidate are:
- Bad breath
- Teeth sensitivity
- Gum discomfort
If you experience these symptoms, it may be time to have a cleaning. We encourage every person to take care of their teeth, and we can help. With professional care and expertise, we can reach the tough areas to remove any unhealthy deposits. Let the well-qualified staff of Old Town Smiles help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.
Comfort Services
At Old Town Smiles, we want our patients to have the best dental experiences. We recognize that many people experience anxiety when it comes to dental procedures and may be uncomfortable with mouth examinations. We offer many different sedation options to help provide a relaxing, pain-free dental experience for our patients. Our staff is highly-trained and will quickly and effectively administer sedation.
We have a range of sedation options that are safe and provide our patients with a calm, stress-free experience.
We want you to be healthy and will strive to provide you with an experience that addresses your concerns. We offer Oral Conscious Sedation, Nitrous Oxide, IV Sedation, and General Anesthesia. We will work with you to suggest the sedation that will best fit your needs.
ORAL CONSCIOUS SEDATION
Oral sedatives are a simple way to provide a tranquil dental appointment.
An hour before the procedure, patients may have the option of taking a pill or oral sedative. This sedative will help relax the patient while allowing them to stay conscious during their procedure. This is an excellent option because it allows the patient to interact with the dentist while remaining comfortable. Oral sedatives may include Valium, Halcion, and Atarax. These sedatives will allow you to have a calm, anxiety-free experience. Patients find that at the end of their procedure they feel alert. If you choose this option you will need a friend or family member drive you home after your procedure.
NITROUS OXIDE
Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” is often chosen by patients who desire a safe, simple solution to sedation. Nitrous gas makes patients feel calm and pacified. The gas is administered through a nasal cannula and is worn for the entire appointment. The level of sedation can be manipulated and your dentist may adjust the influx of the gas to meet your needs.
Nitrous gas is a popular choice because it is simple to administer and allows the patient to stay awake and communicate with the dentist.
The effect of the gas also quickly diminishes once it stops being administered. Nitrous Oxide is a great solution to any stress or anxiety you feel at the dentist office.
IV SEDATION
This option will allow the patient to be deeply relaxed while remaining awake to interact with the dentist when necessary. IV sedation is administered intravenously, or through a vein in your arm, and will quickly take effect. Your dentist may adjust the level of the sedation to meet your needs and improve your comfort. An IV sedation successfully helps provide a comfortable, positive experience for patients.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA
General anesthesia is often used during more invasive dental procedures, such as the removal of wisdom teeth. However, in the right case, it may benefit patients with special needs or who have a high tolerance for sedatives. General Anesthesia is administered intravenously and renders the patient unconscious. However, the patient will be able to be “woken up” at the end of their appointment. They will be groggy from the sedative and a friend or family member will need to drive the patient home. General anesthesia is a safe option for patients who require heavier sedation.
Safety
At Old Town Smiles, safety and health is our priority. The sedation methods we offer are FDA-approved; how they are administered is held to the standards of the American Dental Association. Our practices reflect quality as do our dentists. Dr. Roberts is a board-certified anesthesiologist in both IV and general anesthesia. He ensures patients receive their sedatives safely and maintains their health through the duration of the sedative administration.
Dr. Ahmed has many years of experience and expertly applies sedation with safety and precision. You can trust our dentist to maintain your health and comfort.
Before your sedative is administered, your dentist will inquire about your health and medical history. It is very important to share all the information regarding your well-being so that your dentist can choose a sedative that will be effective and safe for you.
To ensure that the sedative is effective, we at Old Town Smiles offer our patients different levels of sedation.
MINIMAL SEDATION
This option allows patients to be relaxed but awake and interactive during their procedure. This is commonly achieved with Nitrous Oxide or an Oral Conscious Sedation.
MODERATE SEDATION
Moderate sedation helps patients to remain thoroughly relaxed during their procedure. The patient may find that their speech is slurred however they will still be able to interact with the dentist when necessary. This level of sedation may cause patients to have a hard time recalling all of their procedure and is a common level of sedation for patients with extreme anxiety.
DEEP SEDATION
This level of sedation will help patients remain unconscious during their procedure, however, they will be able to be “woken up” when needed.
We offer extensive sedation options to help our patients feel less anxious during their procedures. If you are interested in sedation options during your professional teeth cleaning, contact our office today to see how we can help make your experience positive. Your comfort is important to us!
How to Prepare
Professional teeth cleaning is fairly quick. Before you arrive, you can help the staff by brushing and flossing your teeth. This will help remove any food pieces from your teeth and will allow the procedure to go smoothly. Prior to your appointment, be sure to notify the staff if you are sensitive to pain so that adjustments may be made.
Professional Cleaning Techniques
When you arrive for your professional cleaning, your preferred sedative option will be applied.
Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling and polishing and debridement if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments and devices to loosen and remove tartar from the teeth, leaving them smooth and shiny. Professional cleaning includes an oral examination by one of our high-qualified dentists. X-rays may be taken. Your cleaning will be customized to meet your periodontal needs and unique features.
Your teeth cleaning treatment may take about an hour. When it is complete you will be able to return to your regular work schedule unless you were given sedation. This may require you to receive a ride home to wait for the effects of the sedation to wear off.
Results
After your teeth cleaning your teeth will feel smoother and look cleaner. These results will elongate the health of your teeth and gums. Be sure to schedule your next teeth cleaning on your way out. We want you to have a brilliant smile for years to come!
Professional Teeth Cleaning Cost
Teeth cleanings are commonly covered by insurance, but a cost breakdown may be discussed before your cleaning begins.
Regular, professional teeth cleaning will help maintain your oral health care while helping prevent serious oral conditions. Be sure to schedule your regular cleaning at Old Town Smiles today at (703) 836-7000!