Teeth Cleaning
What Happens During A Teeth Cleaning Appointment?
When you come for a teeth cleaning appointment at Dr. Lenny Slepchik’s office, the goal is to eliminate tartar, plaque, and any excess build up with a thorough teeth cleaning appointment. Your hygienist will take her time and give you a break if you need it. She will answer all your questions and make sure you are comfortable.
Teeth Cleaning vs Teeth whitening
For more information about our general dentistry services, contact Lenny Slepchik, DDS at 514-875-7971 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a consultation. We are located in Downtown Montreal, next to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel across from Place Ville Marie. Metro McGill or Metro Bonaventure.
Your Teeth Cleaning Appointment At Dr. Lenny Slepchik’s Office
During this appointment, our hygienist removes plaque and tartar accumulated (calcified) on your teeth, because leaving it undisturbed will undoubtedly damage your gums and lead to gum disease such as periodontitis. The hygienist will first use an ultrasonic instrument that sprays a cooling mist of water, in order to break up larger pieces of tartar and loosen them.
Second, she uses fine hand instruments to remove smaller deposits lodged in tighter areas and smooth out the tooth surfaces.
Finally, she will polish further and remove stains with an airflow instrument ,which is a high pressured jet of water mixed with a powder containing baking soda. This will leave your teeth feeling soft and clean. Your first cleaning may take longer than usual if your last appointment has been over 3 months ago, as the calcified tartar tends to be harder to remove.
Most people find cleanings painless and even enjoyable. However, if there is gum recession (root exposure) or inflammation, it could feel sensitive. In such cases, the hygienist has a number of methods available to make you as comfortable as possible. She can use a topical anesthetic or Dr. Slepchik can freeze the hypersensitive areas. The most popular method though, would be the use of Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as Laughing Gas, in order to release tension, resulting in a more enjoyable dental experience. The Nitrous Oxide works quickly and is reversed 100 % at the end of this appointment ; you can resume your daily activities immediately.
We take pride in our thoughtful and thorough dental cleanings.
How often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?
Many people may not understand the importance of seeing their dentist every three or six months for their professional dental cleanings. They feel they do a good job with their home hygiene, so they may put off scheduling their professional cleanings and exams with Dr. Slepchik and your hygienist.
Why is three or six months the timeline for these exams and cleanings? It’s not an arbitrary number. Six months is about the length of time it takes plaque to harden into tartar to a degree in your mouth that it should be removed. While daily brushing and flossing remove plaque every day, that same plaque hardens into tartar if you don’t brush enough and in some places such as the inside of your lower teeth (where everyone builds up tartar). Tartar can only be removed by a professional hygienist using specific dental instruments When you get beyond six months, tartar can begin to creep under your gum line,which signals the beginning of gum disease.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends seeing the dentist for a professional cleaning and exam every three to six months.
How long does a regular cleaning and exam take?
What happens if I have dental anxiety?
If you’re nervous or anxious about seeing the dentist you’re not alone. Dr. Slepchik has made his downtown Montreal practice welcoming to anxious patients. The best thing you can do for yourself is let us know this is hard for you. We understand and know exactly how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. We will go as slowly as you need us too, giving you breaks in your appointment if you need them. We also offer noise reduction headphones, and you can play music from your phone through them. Many nervous patients request nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for their appointment. This light sedation completely removes a patient’s anxiety, yet you are awake the whole time. Plus, the effect of the gas wears off almost instantly when the mask is removed, so you don’t have to worry about any after effects or downtime.
If you’d like nitrous oxide during your cleaning and exam, all you need to do is ask. Our front desk concierges will reserve it for you. Also, using the Dental Vibe and the Wand for the most gentle injection you’ve ever had genuinely helps. You will feel nothing. The technology in our office allows our patients to feel more comfortable during their dental appointment.
How soon after my cleaning can I eat?
Are dental cleanings painful?
The main job in a routine cleaning is to break off any tartar that has accumulated in the usual places in your mouth, particularly the inside of the lower front teeth. Tartar forms when plaque is allowed to sit on your teeth. The calcium combined with saliva hardens into tartar. Once tartar has formed, you cannot remove it with dental floss and brushing; it needs to be removed by your dental hygienist using her instruments.
Patients sometimes assume this must be painful. It isn’t. Tartar breaks free from the tooth with a slight amount of pressure from a dental pick. The pick is then used to scrape off any smaller pieces. This is important because if tartar is not removed it begins to advance up under the gum line, and this is the beginning of gum disease. There isn’t any pain involved in a cleaning and exam.
How should I maintain my teeth after a professional cleaning?
The key to enduring good dental health is your home hygiene. This is a simple enough process, but people tend to treat it indifferently.
Start by flossing your teeth once a day. Move the floss up and down the sides of the teeth and under the gums a little bit. This removes plaque and food residue that are between your teeth. Plus, this stimulates your gum tissue, which is important for their health.
Next move on to brushing. The goal is to brush your teeth for two minutes twice daily. You should brush with an electric toothbrush using toothpaste with fluoride that has been approved by the Canadian Dental Association or the American Dental Association. Their oscillating heads (often combined with ultrasonic energy) do an excellent job of removing plaque and keeping your gums healthy. Most of these electric toothbrushes even have built-in timers to tell you when you’ve brushed long enough. Many also have pressure sensors to tell you if you are pushing too hard, which can lead to gum recession.
That’s it. If you follow that home hygiene every day, the odds are you’ll only need to see Dr. Slepchik and our friendly team at our downtown Montreal offices for routine cleanings and exams. You’ll likely be able to avoid issues such as gum disease, heavily decayed teeth, bad breath, and all the other problems that come with poor dental hygiene.
Teeth Cleaning Patient Testimonial
What People Say About Us!
“This is the best dental practice in Montreal! Quality dental service, excellent communication with their customers, friendly staff and clean environment. Dr. Slepchik and Hygienest Kinga are amazing people! Super friendly and professional! I highly recommend this place to anybody!” – Wayne Y.
schedule a consultation
For more information about our general dentistry services, contact Lenny Slepchik, DDS at 514-875-7971 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a consultation. We are located in Downtown Montreal, next to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel across from Place Ville Marie. Metro McGill or Metro Bonaventure.