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Regular dental cleaning should be a critical part of everyone's routine. Having your teeth professionally cleaned does A LOT more than just whiten your teeth and prevent you from having bad breath. First, let us tell you a bit about who we have here at Maitland Family Dentistry for our Dental Hygiene Team. With over 50 years of combined experience, Maryann and Diane are both highly experienced Registered Dental Hygienists that have been caring for our patients for over 20 years. Combined, they have helped keep THOUSANDS of our patients' teeth healthier, whiter, and free of bad breath all over Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, and Central Florida as a whole.
I must say, after many years serving our great patients, our hygienists are more popular than our doctors (I can't imagine why??) People love relaxing while having their teeth cleaned and the squeaky clean feeling they have afterwards. For some reason people don't look forward to having root canals, and fillings done, strange isn't it??
Well, not really, we understand that getting your teeth cleaned is a very refreshing feeling. But you have to know that when you come to see our hygienists you get a WHOLE lot more than just a teeth cleaning. Every year our hygienists spend over 50 hours attending hands on and lecture classes to make sure they are at the forefront of any developments there are in the dental hygiene world. Click here to see this years schedule of courses that our hygienist will be attending.
Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is THE MOST conservative and cost effective dentistry available. The purpose of a professional cleaning is not only to clean your teeth very thoroughly, but also do regular oral cancer screenings, look for changes in jaws and bite, look for crowding of teeth, remove causes of bad breath, check for any pre-cavity areas, and review any potential problems that may develop in the future. For example, periodontal (gum) problems are often identified early during regular hygiene visits. These problems can often be dealt with very conservatively or prevented at this early stage.
So, what is it all about when you come for a professional hygiene visit at Maitland Family Dentistry? Below we will give you some of what you can expect when you visit us for your next dental cleaning visit. Remember with over 100,000 professional dental cleaning appointments serving our patients in Orlando, Maitland, and all of Central Florida since 1974 these hygienists know teeth.
Did you know that more teeth are lost today from gum disease than from cavities. Often times we hear our patients asking at what age they should be getting dentures. It's important for people to know that teeth can be kept for a lifetime and loosing teeth is not and should not be considered a "normal" part of aging. We will work very hard to help our patients keep their teeth and smile youthful and healthy for their entire lives.
How long will my cleaning appointment take?
Normally, an average cleaning takes about 1 hour. This can change based on our patients' individual needs, any specific dental or medical history that may need additional attention. Some of course are shorter. Again we make sure our patients' individual needs are all addressed.
WHAT? One hour, it takes me about 2 minutes to brush and floss my teeth at home. What could take that long?
Indeed, a lot more that just cleaning teeth takes place, below is a list of what you may expect at your next cleaning at Maitland Family Dentistry:
- Complete review of your medical history.
- Evaluation of your medical history to determine if any systemic conditions you have may put you at higher risk of gum disease. For example did you know that all patients that are type one diabetic are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with gum disease? Or did you know that there are links to patients with gum disease having a higher association with heart disease and may be at higher risk for stroke and heart attacks? All these will be reviewed with you by your dental hygienist.
- Evaluation of gums for any signs and symptoms of gum disease.
- Pre-treatment antimicrobial rinse to prevent the spreading of mouth born bacteria before your cleaning.
- Staining of your teeth with special plaque indicator to look for and modify any areas of your teeth that are not being brushed effectively and review how to reach those areas.
- Fully cleaning and polish every surface of your teeth, removing yellow and brown surface stains.
- Talk about any bad breath you may be experiencing and review methods to eliminate it.
- Polish any porcelain crowns or veneers you have with special porcelain polish to make sure they are as shiny as when they where new.
So, as you can see our dental hygienist do A LOT more than just clean teeth. They truly are an integral part of your dental healthcare team.
How soon can I get in for my cleaning?
Call us today and you can schedule your first visit to meet your new doctor and hygienist and get scheduled for your first dental cleaning ASAP.
I heard there are different types of cleanings. Is that true?
Yes, there are several different types of cleanings. What most people think of when they think of cleanings are what is called dental prophylaxis or "regular" cleaning on a healthy mouth. These are done on patients that have no past history or current signs or symptoms of periodontal disease also known as gum disease or "pyorrhea" of the gums.
How do I know what type of cleaning I need?
At your first visit, you and your doctor will go thru an in depth digital, historical, and clinical examination that will determine your exact needs. You will have a non-rushed consultation and you will be able to ask any question you may have.
How do I know if I have any signs of Gum Disease?
The American Association of Periodontology or AAP is the leading authority on gum disease and gum related problems. You can click here to see the most recent signs and symptoms for gum disease. But remember that at Maitland Family Dentistry, we make it easy for you. We keep up to date of all current science and literature to be sure to deliver you the most up to date care possible. Below is a list of possible signs and symptoms of gum disease.
- gums that bleed when you floss
- red gums
- bad breath
- teeth that are shifting for no known cause
- bad taste in mouth
- receding gums
I heard that if you have gum disease you may be at risk for other problems like Heart disease or Diabetes.
Yes, there have been some links and associations to various systemic health problems. Be assured our dental hygiene team is fully aware on any latest developments and science. After thoroughly reviewing your dental and medical history they will be able to assess your risk factors and make proper recommendations or referrals for your health.
So if you have read enough and think it's time to schedule your first visit with us call today. We have been serving Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, and all of Central Florida since 1974 and will do our very best to help you with all of your dental needs.
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