Teeth Cleanings | Steinbicker Family Dentistry • Mebane

The registered dental hygienists that work with our Mebane dentists provide you the best care possible using the latest technology and techniques. We treat all of our patients as gently as possible during their teeth cleanings and other dental treatment. Our office uses high-tech Cavitron ultrasonic scaling units. Dental tools clean teeth to help prevent bone loss and gum disease.

What are teeth cleanings?

Our dentists recommend teeth cleanings every six months. Teeth cleanings help reduce gum disease and bone loss. Excess plaque leads to tooth decay. Tooth decay leads to root canals, tooth loss and even worse, dentures.

Dental hygiene vision statement

At Steinbicker Family Dentistry our dental hygiene team’s mission is to assist every dental patient in achieving optimal oral health.

Bone loss and gum disease

Periodontal disease is bone loss around your teeth. Gingivitis is gum inflammation. Regular teeth cleanings are essential to reduce plaque buildup. Dentists recommend brushing twice a day and floss once a day. Periodontal disease leads to tooth loss.

Signs of gum disease

• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Receding Gums
• Bleeding gums
• Swollen, red and tender gums

What type of teeth cleaning do you need?

Unless your appointment is an emergency visit, we determine what type of teeth cleaning you need at your first visit. We do this by examining your tissues clinically. With periodontal probes, we take measurements. These measurements calculate the amount of bone loss you may or may not have. If you do have bone loss, you might require a select type of cleaning called a deep cleaning (i.e., scaling and root planing). Using local anesthetic, we numb your mouth so we can appropriately remove tartar and calculus above and below the gums. After scaling and root planing, patients receive periodontal maintenance teeth cleanings every three to four months.

Your first dental appointment

At your first appointment, you meet with someone from our dental hygiene team. They examine your mouth intraorally and extra-orally. Using a periodontal probe, they measure your bone levels. These measurements determine what type of cleaning you need. At your first appointment, the hygienist also takes digital radiographs. These images tell us if you have tooth decay or other diseases. Any active disease needs to be under control before considering cosmetic dental procedures.

Good oral hygiene

Our office recommends the following for good oral health:

• Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush
• Preventive dentistry
• Floss once a day
• Complete exam
• Good oral hygiene is particularly important for patients in orthodontics
• Regular periodontal cleanings for periodontal patients
• Rinse with fluoride after brushing, before bedtime (i.e., some rinses like Listerine Zero have fluoride)
• Brush with an electric toothbrush (i.e., Sonicare toothbrush)
• Visit the dentist at least once every six months
• Take x-rays once every one to two years (this depends on your tooth decay rate)