Dental Hygiene & Cleaning

Professional dental cleaning including scaling and polishing.

Professional dental cleaning (prophylaxis) removes plaque, tartar (calculus), and surface stains that regular brushing and flossing cannot. The hygienist uses specialized instruments — ultrasonic scalers to break up tartar and hand instruments for precise cleaning — followed by polishing with a gritty paste that smooths tooth surfaces and removes superficial stains. Regular professional cleaning is the foundation of preventive dental care. It removes bacterial deposits that cause gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) and tooth decay. Most dentists recommend cleaning every 6 months, though patients with gum disease or high plaque accumulation may need more frequent visits.