Some people really look forward to dental cleanings. They love the entire process of a professional dental cleaning and the amazing feeling they get when their mouth is fully, perfectly cleaned. Others, however, don’t get as excited anticipating an upcoming dental cleaning.
The difference between the individuals who look forward to getting their teeth cleaned and those who don’t largely has to do with what they expect will happen during their appointment. Will they feel pain? Will they experience discomfort? Will they bleed – if so, how much? As you may expect, one’s gum conditions and dental hygiene will play a large role here.
Suffice it to say, everyone prefers to be in and out when it comes to dental cleanings as the sheer act of keeping your mouth open for an extended period of time can be less than favorable.
So, how long does a dental cleaning take anyway? Let’s jump into the details so you know exactly what to expect when it comes to your next dental cleaning appointment in terms of time.
How long does a dental cleaning take normally?
A typical appointment to get your teeth cleaned may last anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. Most routine cleanings will last about 45 minutes from start to finish, whereas a deep cleaning may last 45 minutes to even an hour and a half! The amount of time (and corresponding type or depth of cleaning) may vary depending on multiple factors.
Some of these factors include, but are not limited to: how much tartar needs removing, how deep your periodontal pockets are, how much your gums bleed, and how well you brush and floss your teeth.
For context, at Nottingham Dental, a top dental clinic in Katy, TX, our routine dental cleanings typically incorporate the following elements:
- X-rays (if needed)
- Taking intraoral photos
- Cavitron or Piezo ultrasonic scaler teeth cleaning
- Hand scaling teeth cleaning
- Polish
- Flossing
- Rinsing
- Comprehensive dental examination
- Optional fluoride varnish treatment
Our deep cleanings typically involve:
- X-rays (if needed)
- Taking intraoral photos
- Comprehensive dental examination
- Local anesthesia to numb the gums
- Cavitron or Piezo ultrasonic scaler to scale below the gums
- Hand scaling and root planing
- Flossing
- Rinsing
What are factors that impact how long a dental cleaning takes?
The amount of time required for each part of a dental cleaning depends upon several components, some of which we have gone into further detail below.
How well you maintain proper oral hygiene
There is a clear relationship between your oral hygiene and its impact on the length of your dental cleaning. If you maintain proper oral hygiene, your teeth cleaning will likely be a breeze – both for you and your dentist.
If you have poor oral hygiene and an ineffective teeth cleaning process at home, that means your dentist will have to work even harder to clear the dental plaque, teeth stains, and tartar buildup in your mouth when he or she carries out your cleaning in the dental office. In addition, you will have a higher likelihood of needing a deep cleaning, which requires additional time because it involves special instruments and techniques.
If your dental hygiene is optimal, however, your dentist won’t have to work as hard and thus your professional cleaning will require less time.
Whether you floss or not
Flossing strengthens your oral health and helps prevent gum disease by keeping bacteria out of hard-to-reach places in your mouth. It’s especially helpful for removing debris from areas where brushing alone isn’t enough. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque buildup.”
If you floss every night, chances are that your dental cleaning won’t be as rigorous because your gums will be in a healthy place with a low risk of bleeding (depending on your genetics, too, of course).
If you don’t floss nightly, though, then you might end up with a buildup of plaque at the gumline that eventually hardens into calculus or tartar that extends under the gums onto the roots of your teeth. This will require your dentist to spend more time going through your mouth and possibly cleaning under the gums with a deep cleaning, extending the potential time of your dental cleaning.
And it goes without saying, but regular brushing and keeping your mouth healthy will be crucial to shortening your stay at the dental office during your cleaning.
If you have cavities or other dental issues
Generally during a dental cleaning, dental professionals will do a basic examination to check for signs of periodontal disease, potential cavities, possible root canal treatment, as well as necessary porcelain crowns. If your mouth is in a healthy place where these types of dental issues don’t need to be vetted, then your dentist may not need to spend as much time thoroughly inspecting each and every tooth.
If in the event you have numerous potential cavities and other dental issues, your dentist will need to spend a considerable amount of time going through your mouth to make sure there isn’t anything dire. This can also be applied to checking for things like gingivitis and oral cancer.
This is particularly why getting a dental cleaning is crucial to avoiding any dental problems that require expensive procedures in the future, as stated by Cigna.
How can you speed up the process of a dental cleaning?
Luckily, there are certain ways and things you can do to speed up the process of your next dental cleaning. Here are a few tips to consider next time you get your teeth cleaned:
- Come prepared for your appointment. Have an idea of what’s bothering you and what’s not so the dentist knows what area of your mouth he or she needs to focus on more. This will also help speed up the dental cleaning procedure because the dental specialist will prioritize the right areas of your mouth.
- Know your brushing and flossing process. One thing that might come up during the dental cleaning process is your dentist having a few questions for you about your different dental hygiene processes. For example, your dentist may want to know about aspects involving your dental health, including your toothbrush, how often you brush, and what motions you use when brushing. Your dentist will likely want to know the same details about your flossing process. This will give your dentist clearer information about what you might be doing incorrectly so they can offer ideas for improvement.
- Use a desensitizing toothpaste to minimize pain. As mentioned prior, some cleanings can be more difficult than others depending on things like teeth and gum sensitivity. The less pain you’ll feel during your cleaning, the smoother the process. If you feel immense pain every few minutes, forcing your dentist to stop and restart their work, this may prolong the dental procedure.
- Visit a professional dental clinic. Many dental clinics will provide you with standard dental care but not go the extra mile to make sure your oral health is as great as it can be. The professional dentists at Nottingham Dental strive in providing excellent dental care at affordable rates while using modern and advanced technology (and we even have a dental membership program that helps our patients save long-term!).
