Professional cleanings help remove plaque and tartar that daily brushing and flossing may leave behind. They also give our team a chance to check your gum health and point out areas that may need more attention at home.
At Allendale Dental, Dr. Alex McPherson and our team provide teeth cleaning in Edmonton for children, adults, and families. We keep appointments straightforward and explain what we are doing throughout your visit.
What Is Dental Cleaning?
A dental cleaning removes plaque, hardened tartar, and surface buildup from your teeth. Once tartar forms, it cannot be removed with regular brushing alone and needs to be cleaned away with professional dental instruments. At Allendale Dental, we provide Edmonton dental cleaning to help maintain your teeth and gums.
Cleaning appointments also help us monitor your gums and identify areas where plaque tends to collect. Depending on your needs, your visit may be scheduled on its own or together with a dental exam.
Why Regular Cleanings Matter
A dental cleaning in Edmonton helps remove plaque before it hardens into tartar and contributes to cavities, gum irritation, and bad breath.
Regular cleanings can help:
- Remove Plaque & Tartar: Clear away plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth.
- Clean the Gumline: Help keep the area along your gumline cleaner.
- Reduce Surface Stains: Minimize certain surface stains caused by everyday foods and drinks.
- Freshen Your Mouth: Leave your mouth feeling cleaner and fresher after your cleaning.
- Support Oral Health: Help maintain healthy teeth and gums through regular professional care.
- Improve Home Care: Identify areas that may benefit from more focused brushing or flossing.
Cleanings work best alongside good daily oral care at home, helping maintain a cleaner mouth and healthier teeth and gums between appointments.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
The exact visit depends on your oral health and how much buildup is present. In most cases, a cleaning includes the following steps:
1. Checking Your Teeth and Gums
We look at your teeth and gums before starting the cleaning. If we notice inflammation, bleeding, or heavier buildup, we may adjust the cleaning to suit your needs.
2. Removing Plaque and Tartar
Dental instruments are used to carefully remove plaque and hardened tartar from the surfaces of your teeth and around the gumline.
3. Polishing Your Teeth
After the buildup is removed, your teeth may be polished to smooth the surfaces and remove some external stains.
4. Flossing Between the Teeth
We floss between your teeth to clear away remaining debris and check areas that can be difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
5. Additional Preventive Care When Needed
Fluoride or other preventive care may be recommended depending on your age, cavity risk, and oral health.
How Often Should You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
There is no single cleaning schedule that is right for everyone. How often you need professional care depends on factors such as your gum health, plaque and tartar buildup, cavity risk, and dental history.
Some patients may need cleanings more often than others. Dr. McPherson and our hygiene team can recommend a schedule based on what we see during your visits.
If it has been a while since your last teeth cleaning in Edmonton, we can assess your current oral health and let you know what type of cleaning is appropriate.
Do Dental Cleanings Hurt?
Most routine cleanings are comfortable, although you may notice some sensitivity or tenderness if your gums are inflamed or there is heavier tartar buildup. Areas with more buildup may feel slightly sensitive while they are being cleaned, particularly around the gumline.
Tell us if an area feels sensitive during your appointment. We can adjust our approach and take breaks when needed to make the visit easier for you. After the cleaning, your gums may feel mildly tender for a short time, especially if there was significant buildup or inflammation.
Regular Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning
A routine dental cleaning is generally used to maintain healthy teeth and gums by removing plaque and tartar from around the teeth and gumline.
A deep cleaning, often called scaling and root planing, may be recommended when gum disease has caused deeper spaces to form between the gums and teeth. This treatment cleans below the gumline and is different from a standard cleaning. Our dentist will explain which type of cleaning is appropriate based on the condition of your gums.
Schedule Your Dental Cleaning
If you are due for a dental cleaning in Edmonton, contact Allendale Dental to arrange your next visit. Our team can review your dental history, check your teeth and gums, and recommend a cleaning schedule that works for you.
Call (780) 434-1313 to book an appointment. Our clinic is located at 10430 61 Ave NW #102, Edmonton, AB T6H 2J3, Canada
Common Questions About Dental Cleanings in Edmonton
What happens at a dental cleaning appointment?
Our dentist checks your teeth and gums, removes plaque and hardened tartar, polishes the teeth, and flosses between them. Depending on your oral health, fluoride or other preventive care may also be recommended. If you are considering dental cleaning near you, our team can explain what to expect based on your individual needs.
How long does a dental cleaning take?
Appointment time varies depending on how much buildup is present and the type of cleaning you need. A routine visit may take longer if it has been some time since your last cleaning or if your gums require additional care.
Why do my gums bleed during a cleaning?
Bleeding can happen when the gums are irritated or when plaque and tartar have built up along the gumline. If it keeps happening, we can check your gums and let you know if any additional care is needed.
Can I have a dental cleaning if my teeth are sensitive?
Yes. Let us know about sensitive areas before the cleaning begins. We can adjust the way we clean your teeth and discuss options that may make the appointment more comfortable.
What if I have not had a cleaning in several years?
You can schedule an appointment even if it has been a long time. We will check your teeth and gums first and recommend the type of cleaning that fits your current needs.
Are dental cleanings important if I brush and floss every day?
Yes. Good home care removes much of the daily plaque from your teeth, but hardened tartar cannot be brushed away. Professional cleanings remove this buildup and allow us to check areas that are difficult to clean at home.