118 W Buffalo St
Ithaca, NY 14850

Dental Cleanings in Ithaca, NY

Keep Your Smile Beautiful and Healthy With Our Ithaca Dentist

A beautiful, healthy smile can do wonders for your self-confidence and oral health. By keeping up with routine dental cleanings and exams, our Ithaca dentist can help ensure that your oral health is in pristine condition and help you prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems.

Learn why maintaining professional teeth cleanings twice a year will ensure that you achieve pristine dental hygiene and a beautiful smile for years. Contact our Ithaca dental office today at 607-272-1874 to schedule your appointment. Our dentist, Dr. Ambis, is happily welcoming new patients.

woman in dental chair looking at her teeth in a mirror
woman smiling, showing her teeth

What Are Dental Cleanings?

Dental cleanings, also known as prophylaxis, are routine procedures done by dental professionals to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth. By visiting your dentist twice a year for dental cleanings, you can keep your smile sparkling and prevent oral health problems from arising. Maintaining optimal oral health is an essential part of preventing gum disease and tooth decay.

Here’s what you can expect at your routine teeth cleanings:

  • Exam: Our dental hygienist will examine your mouth for signs of gum disease or other potential issues.
  • Plaque and tartar removal: Using a scaler, the hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum line.
  • Other procedures: Cleaning appointments may also include flossing, polishing your teeth with a gritty paste to remove stains, and fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth.

Dental Cleaning Benefits

Keeping up with professional dental cleanings offers several benefits, including:

  • Prevents cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems
  • Early detection of dental problems
  • It helps maintain overall health
  • Promotes fresher breath

Types of Dental Cleanings

There are several types of dental cleanings. Depending on your dental health, our Ithaca dentist will recommend the best dental cleaning for you.

Routine Dental Cleanings

Routine dental cleanings are the most common and are recommended for those with good oral health. During a regular dental cleaning, our dentist or dental hygienists will remove plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of your teeth. It’s a quick process that shouldn’t take longer than one hour.

This type of cleaning is typically done twice a year as part of routine dental care.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing, also known as deep cleanings, is recommended for those with moderate-to-severe gum disease. During a scaling and root planing treatment, our dentist will remove plaque and tartar buildup from below the gum line. They’ll also smooth out the roots of your teeth to prevent future buildup.

In many cases, one or two sessions of scaling and root planing can reverse the effects of gum disease and prevent it from progressing into further stages.

Periodontal Maintenance

A periodontal maintenance cleaning is done after scaling and root planing to maintain the health of the gums. During periodontal maintenance, our dentist will remove any plaque and tartar that has accumulated since your last deep cleaning. This type of cleaning is typically done every three to four months for patients with gum disease.

Gross Debridement

Gross debridement cleaning isn’t your typical dental cleaning. It’s done to remove plaque and tartar that’s built up too excessively for routine teeth cleaning. This type of dental cleaning is necessary when there’s so much buildup, making it difficult for the dentist to perform a thorough oral examination. The gums may be swollen, and the buildup must be removed before a prophylaxis or dental exam can be completed.

Who Needs Dental Cleanings?

Everyone should receive a professional dental cleaning at least twice a year, even if they have good oral hygiene habits. Even if you brush and floss your teeth well, some areas are hard to clean properly at home. Those areas will often accumulate plaque and tartar and it should be removed as soon as possible.

Those with underlying dental issues or a history of gum disease may require more frequent teeth cleanings. Our dentist in Ithaca will inform you how often you should come in for routine dental cleanings.

Dental Cleaning Costs

On average, a dental cleaning will cost around $125. However, the costs of your dental cleaning will fluctuate depending on certain factors, including:

  • Your location: The cost of dental care is generally higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
  • The type of dental cleaning: A routine cleaning is less expensive than a deep cleaning, which is necessary for people with gum disease.
  • The experience and training of the dentist: More experienced dentists typically charge more than less experienced dentists.
  • Your dental insurance: If you have dental insurance, your insurance may cover a portion of the cost of a dental cleaning.

Contact our dental team today by calling 607-272-1874 for more information.

reversing gum disease

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Our Dentist for Regular Dental Cleanings!

Our Ithaca dentist will recommend the best type of dental cleaning for you during your exam. Teeth cleanings, regardless of the type, are essential for maintaining good oral health and avoiding dental problems in the future.

To schedule your dental cleaning with Dr. Ambis, contact our Ithaca, NY, dental office today at 607-272-1874.

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