Why a Professional Cleaning Matters
Plaque that stays on teeth for a while hardens into tartar. Once it hardens, brushing and flossing cannot remove it, and it keeps irritating the gums. Over time that irritation can turn into gum disease.
A professional cleaning resets things. Your hygienist removes the buildup above and just below the gumline, polishes the surfaces smooth and checks in with you about how home care is going. The American Dental Association recommends cleanings twice a year for most people, and that is what we suggest for most patients at our Newton office.
How We Clean Your Teeth
Each cleaning takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how much buildup there is and whether you are also having an exam.
- Ultrasonic scalingAn ultrasonic scaler uses high-speed vibrations and a lubricating mist to break up tartar and rinse it away. It handles heavy deposits quickly and with less scraping.
- Hand scalingYour hygienist follows with hand scalers and curettes to remove the smaller deposits the ultrasonic tip leaves behind, especially between teeth and along the gumline.
- PolishingA gritty polish smooths the tooth surfaces and lifts surface stains. Smooth teeth give new plaque less to hold on to.
- Fluoride if needed or requestedIf your teeth would benefit, or you ask for it, a fluoride treatment can be applied at the end to help strengthen enamel.
Dr. Monika Kaceli usually follows your cleaning with a dental exam in Newton, so your whole checkup happens in one visit.
Sensitive Teeth or Nervous About Cleanings?
Some people dread cleanings because their teeth are sensitive or their gums are tender. Tell your hygienist before you start. We have desensitizing options that can make the visit more comfortable, and we can slow down or take breaks.
Sensitivity often eases as gums get healthier. Patients who come in regularly tend to find each cleaning easier than the last, since there is less tartar to remove.
Regular Cleaning or Deep Cleaning?
A regular cleaning is preventive. It is meant for gums that are healthy or only mildly inflamed.
When gum disease has formed pockets below the gumline, a regular cleaning cannot reach the bacteria living there. In that case Dr. Kaceli may recommend scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning. It cleans the root surfaces below the gums and gives the gums a chance to heal. She will explain why she is recommending it and what your gum measurements show.
Keeping Your Teeth Clean Between Visits
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or a water flosser
- Chew sugar-free gum after meals when you cannot brush
- Use a prescription rinse if Dr. Kaceli recommends one
If you clench or grind, ask about a custom night guard. Grinding wears enamel and can make teeth more sensitive.
Why Choose Kaceli Dental Studio in Newton?
Our hygiene visits are unhurried. The team takes time to explain what they find and how to fix trouble spots at home, and we work with patients who speak French, Farsi, Arabic, Albanian, Greek or Lithuanian, among other languages.
Insurance questions go to Amy Orsini at our front desk, who can check your benefits before your cleaning. We see patients from Newton Centre, Wellesley, Needham, Brookline and Dedham.
