Hygiene & Cleanings
Our main priority is to keep you healthy and smiling! At R.A. Campbell Dentistry, our dentists and hygienists will work with you to provide preventive teeth cleanings and general dental hygiene education.
According to the Canadian Dental Association, 7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some time in their lives.
Let us take care of your smile!
You are encouraged to come in for cleanings between regular check-ups, where you will only see the hygienist. Our dental hygienist will perform the cleaning and take any required X-rays. One of our dentists will complete your check-up by examining your teeth for cavities or other dental problems. Most dental cleanings take between 30 minutes to an hour.
Dental cleanings involve removing plaque (soft, sticky, bacteria infested film) and tartar (calculus) deposits that have built up on your teeth over time. Your teeth are continually bathed in saliva which contains calcium and other substances which help strengthen and protect the teeth. While this is a good thing, it also means that you tend to get a build-up of calcium deposits on your teeth. This chalky substance will eventually build up over time. Usually it is tooth-coloured and can easily be mistaken as part of your teeth, but it also can vary from brown to black in colour.
If the plaque or calculus is allowed to accumulate on your teeth, it will provide the right conditions for bacteria to thrive next to your gums. The purpose of the cleaning and polishing is basically to leave the surfaces of your teeth clean and smooth. This way bacteria are unable to stick to your teeth, giving you a better chance of keeping them clean during your regular home care.
Preventing Gum Disease
The best treatment for preventing gum disease is regular cleaning by our dental hygienists to remove built-up tartar, in combination with your brushing twice a day and flossing once a day to remove plaque.
Our dental hygienists use specialized instruments to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth.
It is the acids from bacteria in dental tartar and plaque that weaken the surfaces or your teeth. It is best not to eat, drink or rinse for 30 minutes after the fluoride has been applied.
We recommend that patients come in for a cleaning and check-up every 6 to 9 months.