DEFINITION:

A complete dental cleaning at the dentist’s office every six months, even though a person has good oral hygiene.  For those who have gum disease, a more frequent cleaning, every three to four months, can be recommended.

APPLICATIONS:

A complete dental cleaning includes two important steps:

•Tartar removal: to mechanically dislodge all the tartar accumulated on teeth or between the teeth and the gums, using manual instruments or ultrasonic equipment.

•Polishing: to soften and clean all the dental plaque (i.e. food stains) accumulated on teeth and restorations (fillings, crowns, etc.).

It is important to note that if plaque is not removed from the teeth, it becomes tartar, and it can lead to gum disease and halitosis (bad breath).

Therefore, a complete dental cleaning is necessary supplement to the home oral hygiene care (i.e. brushing and flossing).

SOURCES:     Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).

                            WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).