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Professional removal of plaque, tartar, and surface stains to prevent gum disease and keep your breath fresh.
• Prevents the onset of gum disease and tooth loss.
• Neutralizes bad breath by removing odor-causing bacteria.
• Polishes away surface stains from coffee, tea, or wine.
Ideal for patients with healthy gums who need routine maintenance to keep their smile bright and disease-free.
We use gentle ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments to safely remove buildup, followed by a soothing polish to leave your teeth feeling incredibly smooth.
A standard prophylaxis usually takes about 45–60 minutes.
A routine cleaning should not be painful, but it is completely normal to experience mild sensitivity for a day or two afterward, especially if it has been a while since your last visit or if you have slight gum recession.
Your teeth may feel temporarily sensitive to cold air or cold liquids. This happens because we have removed the insulating layer of tartar that was covering your teeth! The sensitivity will subside quickly. If you are highly sensitive, please let us know before we start—we can apply a soothing desensitizing agent or use gentle numbing gel to keep you completely comfortable.
For most patients with healthy gums, we recommend a professional cleaning every 6 months. This keeps tartar at bay and allows us to catch any small issues before they become big problems.
However, we customize this schedule based on your unique health needs. We may recommend coming in every 3 to 4 months if you:
• Have a history of gum disease or periodontal pockets.
• Are pregnant (hormonal changes can affect gum health).
• Have diabetes or a condition that affects your immune system.
• Are prone to rapid tartar buildup or cavities.
A professional cleaning will definitely make your smile look brighter and fresher, but it is not a substitute for actual teeth whitening.
During a prophylaxis, we polish away extrinsic (surface) stains caused by coffee, tea, wine, and food, revealing the natural, clean surface of your enamel. However, it does not change the underlying, natural shade of your teeth. If you are looking for a dramatically whiter smile, we recommend our professional Opalescence Teeth Whitening treatment!
Seeing blood in the sink can be alarming, but bleeding gums are actually a very common sign of inflammation (gingivitis) caused by plaque and tartar buildup along the gumline.
When we gently clean away that bacteria, the inflamed tissue may bleed slightly. The best way to stop the bleeding is to keep up with your professional cleanings and your daily brushing and flossing at home. As your gums become healthier and tighter, the bleeding will completely stop!
This is one of the most common questions we get! The difference comes down to maintenance versus treatment.
• Prophylaxis (Regular Cleaning): This is a preventive measure for patients with generally healthy gums. We remove plaque, tartar, and stains from above the gumline to keep your smile healthy and bright.
• Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning): This is a therapeutic procedure for patients actively showing signs of gum disease (like deep gum pockets or bone loss). We clean below the gumline and smooth the tooth roots to help the gums reattach and heal.
