Professional dental cleanings are performed by registered Dental Hygienists and are essential to healthy oral care.

• Removal of tartar: Tartar is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. It typically forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
• Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. Plaque is a bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria may produce toxins that inflame the gums. This inflammation is often the start of periodontal disease, which make professional cleanings so important.
• Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.

Your hygienist may also examine your teeth for pocketing, which is when the space between teeth and gums is more than 5 mm. Ongoing gum inflammation can cause periodontitis, eventually causing pockets to develop between your gums and teeth that fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria. In time, these pockets become deeper, filling with more bacteria.

If a deep cleaning has been recommended, it is essential that this session be carried out within weeks of diagnosis to prevent any further health complications.