Why Are Regular Dental Cleanings (Hygiene Visits) Important?

Your smile communicates confidence, and a bright smile can boost your outlook on life. At our Savannah dentist office, we’re dedicated to bringing out your best smile with top-quality dental cleaning in Savannah, GA. Our professional dental cleanings help prevent tooth decay and maintain healthy gums.

The American Dental Association and Dr. Schnabel recommend routine dental cleanings every six months to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth in top shape. These visits also include a thorough dental exam to catch any issues early, ensuring your oral health stays at its best.

For most patients with average to excellent dental health, a professional dental cleaning is recommended twice per year to maintain optimal oral health. However, patients with existing dental issues may need more frequent visits. For example, if you’re prone to cavities, we might recommend cleanings every three months to help prevent further decay and promote healthy teeth.

If you’re undergoing extensive dental work, we may suggest even more frequent cleanings to support your treatment plan. Each patient’s needs are unique, and we’ll explain what to expect during your dental exam. Feel free to ask questions at any time—we’re here to ensure your comfort and clarity.

For those with healthy, strong teeth and gums, professional dental cleanings are typically recommended twice per year. While many believe this is simply to keep their smile bright and remove surface stains, the benefits of regular cleanings extend far beyond appearance. Maintaining a healthy smile is essential, but cleanings also play a vital role in preventing periodontal disease and supporting your overall health.

There is a strong connection between poor oral health and serious health issues, such as heart attacks and strokes. Individuals with untreated dental disease face a higher risk of these conditions. Regular professional dental cleanings ensure that new cavities, gum disease, and other problems are detected and treated before they escalate.

In addition to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, these visits allow us to check for other health concerns, including TMJ disorders, swollen lymph nodes, and signs of oral cancer. A regular dental cleaning in Savannah is a simple and effective way to safeguard your overall health while maintaining a bright and healthy smile.

Dental deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, is a procedure performed by a dental hygienist to treat gum disease. It is typically required if regular dental cleaning appointments have been missed, but even with regular brushing and good oral hygiene habits, some individuals may still need deep cleanings due to a predisposition to gum disease.

During a dental deep cleaning, your hygienist will use a probe to measure the depth of pockets between your tooth enamel and gums. Healthy pockets should be 3 millimeters or less, but if they are deeper than 5 millimeters, a deep cleaning becomes necessary to prevent the progression of gum disease.

The deep cleaning process uses manual, electric, or ultrasonic tools to thoroughly remove plaque and tartar from both the tooth surfaces and deep within the gum pockets. This helps restore oral health and protects tooth enamel from further damage. Following the procedure, your dentist may prescribe an antibacterial mouth rinse to help eliminate any lingering bacteria and promote healing.

After the cleaning, you may need a follow-up appointment to ensure the gum pockets have reduced and the treatment was successful. In some cases, if the deep cleaning does not fully resolve the issue, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist for additional treatment options. Regular dental cleanings and checkups, such as our dental cleaning in Savannah, GA, are key to preventing gum disease and protecting your overall oral health.

Not only are your teeth a key part of your personality and smile, but regular teeth cleaning is essential for preventing serious health issues. Research has shown a strong link between advanced stages of gum disease and systemic health problems such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Even with meticulous brushing, plaque and tartar can still build up in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, eventually hardening into tartar.

When tartar accumulates below the gum line, it can lead to gum infections that cause tooth loss or contribute to the development of gum disease. Regular teeth cleanings help to remove this buildup, preventing these issues and keeping your teeth and gums healthy. By maintaining consistent dental visits, you protect not only your smile but also your overall health.

Schedule the First Step Toward Your Healthiest Smile

We are excited to meet you and discuss your dental needs.  Call our office today at (912) 354-1366 or use the contact form here and we’ll get in touch with you to schedule an appointment.