How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
When going in for a dental cleaning, expect it to last from about 30 minutes to an hour while lying comfortably in a chair. The amount of time it takes to do a cleaning depends on the severity of the cleaning and the state the teeth and gums are in. The more damage and signs of gum disease, the longer the patient may be in the chair. Most of the time, if there is a large amount of work to be done, the dentist will suggest that the procedure be done in a few sessions instead of just one.
Why would a dental cleaning take more than one visit?
Typical dental cleanings usually take one visit due to the lightness of the procedure. For those cleanings, there is no real deep cleaning done, just the overall surface and between the teeth, as for deep cleans, it’s suggested to do them in more than one session for the sake of the client and the dentist. If just one section alone takes about 30 mins to an hour, then cleaning all four sections can take hours. There is also the fact that the usage of anesthesia is used for deep cleanings as a way to numb the nerves in that section. This is done because of how invasive this treatment is to the sensitive gums and areas of the mouth.
What happens during a dental cleaning?
There are a few different types of dental cleanings that may happen when visiting the dentist for a routine checkup. If it’s the first visit of the year, or if it’s the patient’s first time (or it’s been a long time) in the office, then a typical dental cleaning is usually needed. If the dentist sees signs of gum disease, then they would suggest doing a deep cleaning of the teeth.
- Typical cleaning: This procedure is done when the dentist both cleans and flosses the teeth. An X-Ray may also be used during this time as well to get a deeper look into the gums and insides of the teeth and roots. This is a quick procedure, which can take about 30 minutes in the chair.
- Deep cleaning: Also known as Scaling and root planing, is a procedure where a deeper clean is needed not only on the surface of the teeth and between them, but also the gums as well. This procedure is recommended when signs of gum disease show, which is when the soft tissue around the teeth is loose, and bacteria and plaque have started to build up inside them. If left untreated, the bacteria can linger in the roots of the tooth, infecting it and possibly also killing the root as well. Scaling scrapes off that plaque using special tools. Once cleared, root planing begins, where rough spots of the teeth are buffed out and smoothed down for less irritation or infection later on.
It is essential to prioritize getting the teeth cleaned on a yearly basis. The sooner and more frequently one goes, the less time they can spend at the dentist’s office. Please reach out to your dentist if you haven’t already.
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