Regular professional teeth cleaning is vital for maintaining oral health, ensuring a bright smile, and preventing dental problems. Dental experts employ various tools and methods to eliminate plaque, tartar, and stains from teeth.
Over the years, these routine appointments have evolved significantly. Today, advancements in technology have made dental cleanings more efficient and comfortable.
How New Technology Impacts Teeth Cleaning Appointments
Like many areas of medicine, dentistry has undergone significant changes thanks to the introduction of new technologies. From digital X-rays to 3D scanners, new inventions have made dental appointments more efficient than ever before.
Ultrasonic scaling and laser-assisted deep-cleaning techniques are two such innovations that have changed how dental professionals clean your teeth. These innovative methods are less invasive, meaning more patient comfort, and still do the job correctly.
What Is Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning?
An ultrasonic cleaning device uses fast-vibrating sound waves to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the tooth surfaces and beneath the gum tissue. The technology behind the device lies in a unique tool called an ultrasonic scaler, which creates small bubbles through cavitation. These bubbles and vibrations work together to loosen and remove unwanted debris on the teeth without scraping them the old-fashioned way.
Advantages of Ultrasonic Cleaning Technology
Ultrasonic teeth cleaning or scaling improves your dental experience as a patient in many ways:
Greater Comfort
Many patients prefer an ultrasonic scaler after their first experience because it is more comfortable than other, more traditional means. They don’t have to sit through the hand scraping, which often relieves dental anxiety. Furthermore, dental professionals can adjust the scaler’s power, giving you a customized experience based on your comfort level.
Improved Effectiveness
Ultrasonic scalers provide a more thorough cleaning than hand instruments can. They quickly reach areas that can also be missed, even under your gums. These enhanced cleanings help keep your gums and teeth healthier, reducing the risk of developing periodontal disease.
Enhanced Efficiency
One of the most crucial benefits of ultrasonic scaling is how fast it works. The instrument quickly breaks down the most challenging pieces of tartar, making your dental visit shorter overall. That, in turn, leads to less discomfort and allows you to return to your daily activities sooner.
Safe For All Patients
It is safe for virtually everyone to get their teeth cleaned with ultrasonic scalers, even those with implants, crowns, and bridges. Ultrasonic scalers are gentle, so these restorations are much less likely to hurt.
What is Laser-Assisted Deep Cleaning?
Traditional deep cleaning methods include scaling and root planing. These processes use metal dental instruments to scrape plaque and tartar from the teeth and above and below the gum line. Removing debris below the gum line is particularly crucial, as this type of teeth cleaning is often done to treat gum disease.
Modern technology allows dental professionals to complete a deep cleaning using a laser instead of hand instruments. Your dentist will aim the laser at specific areas, generating heat that breaks down plaque and bacteria on the teeth and under the gums.
Ultimately, laser teeth cleaning is much easier on patients than traditional methods. It causes less swelling, bleeding, and discomfort. Most patients also experience a shorter recovery time, being able to return to their regular diet within just a few days.
Other Technology Enhancing Teeth Cleanings
Even beyond ultrasonic and laser-based devices, the dental industry is flooded with new technology affecting how dentists and hygienists practice. The following gadgets and gizmos also allow for better patient care:
3D Scanners
Teeth cleaning appointments aren’t just about removing debris from your teeth. They’re also prime educational opportunities.
3D scanners and intraoral images have changed how dental professionals provide patient education, with a complete scan of your mouth capable of being conducted within five minutes. The images captured can show faulty restorations, fractured teeth, and inflamed gum tissue. Patients can see these adverse conditions and — with a bit of help — better understand their oral health.
Self-Cleaning Dental Mirrors
Patients have to breathe, but dental professionals have to see! Anti-fog self-cleaning mirrors simplify providing treatment. When a dentist has a clearer view, procedures go quicker and more smoothly.
Jaw Support
Most patients have experienced a sore jaw from keeping their mouth open for so long. Nowadays, jaw support add-ons work to minimize that negative aspect of the dental experience. Teeth cleanings become more comfortable for you, and providers have more access to deeper sections of your mouth during treatment.
See Teeth Cleaning Technology in Action
Are you ready to have a fresh, clean mouth? Schedule a teeth cleaning appointment at the office of Dr. Brett Langston, DMD. Call us today to get started!
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