A common question that dentists hear is, “If my mouth looks and feels fine, why do I need a professional cleaning?” After all, if you’re brushing and flossing regularly and don’t feel any discomfort, it might seem like an unnecessary step. However, with routine dental cleanings, we remove plaque and tartar build up around your teeth and gums that if left untreated, may contribute to gum disease along with tooth decay. Our Rochester, NY dentists offers quality dental services to patients, with Drs. Arlene Messer, Anna Belous, Robert Calcagno, and Adriana Palacio emphasizing the importance of preventive care and providing personalized, holistic dental treatments that protect your health in more ways than one.

The Role of Routine Cleanings in Preventive Care

Routine cleanings are the foundation of comprehensive dental services. While daily brushing and flossing are crucial, they can’t eliminate all plaque and tartar. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, leading to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated. Even with impeccable home care, some areas of the mouth are hard to reach, making gentle deep teeth cleaning as part of our general dental practice essential for a thorough cleaning.

Our dentists take a comprehensive approach to oral care, focusing on more than just your teeth. Our holistic philosophy means we view your oral health as part of your overall well-being. Dental issues can affect other areas of the body, and preventing problems before they start is the best way to avoid long-term health complications. Cleanings are one of the most effective ways to ensure your mouth stays healthy and your body stays balanced.

Hidden Oral Health Risks

Even if your teeth feel clean and your gums look healthy, there may be underlying issues you can’t detect alone. Gum disease, for instance, can develop silently, with little to no symptoms in its early stages. Known as “the silent disease,” early gum disease (gingivitis) can quickly progress into periodontitis if not caught early, leading to tooth loss, gum recession, and even bone loss in the jaw.

Professional cleanings allow our dentists to spot these problems before they escalate. During routine checkups, visit our office twice a year for checkups and cleanings from the skilled preventive dentist and caring dentistry team. We can identify early signs of gum disease, cavities, or other oral health concerns. You can avoid more extensive, expensive, and invasive treatments by catching these issues early. This preventive care is crucial in maintaining a healthy mouth and can save you from future discomfort.

What Happens During a Cleaning?

At Contemporary Dentistry, we are proud to provide top-quality gentle dental care that goes beyond just a routine procedure. Our cleaning approach is designed to ensure your comfort while delivering the highest quality care. Here’s what you can expect during a visit:

  1. Scaling and Polishing: The hygienist will use specialized tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, especially in those hard-to-reach areas that regular brushing might miss. This process is known as scaling. After the tartar is removed, your teeth are polished to remove surface stains and leave them feeling smooth.
  2. Holistic Approach: We prioritize using biocompatible materials and methods that promote your overall health. From dietary analysis to fluoride-free products, we try to find the latest products and suggestions that you can incorporate into your routine.  Ozone therapy, when required, is used to support periodontal treatments without the use of harsher chemicals. We seek to balance the microbiome rather than destroy all bacteria, offering probiotics and suggestions for probiotic and remineralizing toothpastes.  
  3. Personalized Care: Every patient is unique, and so are their cleaning needs. We tailor each hygiene visit to your specific dental health, ensuring that we address any concerns you might have, such as sensitive areas, material sensitivities, or areas prone to plaque buildup. Teeth cleanings not only give you sparkling teeth, it can also protect your oral health.

Hygiene visits at our practice are also an opportunity to educate you on maintaining optimal oral hygiene at home. We provide personalized tips and recommendations based on your unique oral health situation.

Long-Term Benefits of Regular Cleanings

The benefits of regular teeth cleanings extend far beyond keeping teeth shiny and white. A clean mouth is integral to overall health, and studies have shown that poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of several serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections.

We emphasize the mouth-body connection. Your oral health can be a window into your overall health, and oral dysfunction such as inflammation can affect your entire body. Maintaining routine dental cleanings reduces the risk of gum disease, which has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Cleanings also help prevent bacterial infections in the mouth that can spread to other parts of the body.

Patient Comfort and Experience

For many people, visiting the dentist can be a source of anxiety, especially for cleanings. We strive to make your experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Our office features music, noise-reduction headphones, a TV, weighted blankets, and a variety of pillows to ensure your comfort. If you experience dental anxiety, we offer sedation dentistry options to make sure that your visit is stress-free.

Our goal is to provide minimally invasive treatments that prioritize your comfort while delivering excellent results. We are dedicated to giving every patient a phenomenal dental experience, as we know that your comfort is key to maintaining your commitment to regular dental care. We go the extra mile to ensure each visit is pleasant and worry-free.

Why Preventive Care Is the Best Care

Preventive care, including regular cleanings, is the cornerstone of a healthy mouth. By catching potential problems early and preventing issues like tartar buildup and gum disease, you can avoid more extensive treatments in the future. Cleanings are a simple yet powerful tool to keep your mouth healthy, fresh, and problem-free.

We believe in the power of preventive care to transform oral health. We offer a holistic, patient-centered approach that focuses on the long-term health of teeth and gums. Even if your mouth feels or looks great, routine dental cleanings are essential to maintaining that health for years to come.

Contact Our Office For A Cleaning Today

So, what good are cleanings if your mouth feels fine? The answer is a lot! Comprehensive dental services like gentle deep teeth cleaning are vital in keeping your mouth and body healthy, detecting hidden problems before they worsen, and providing long-term health benefits beyond your teeth. Contemporary Dentistry’s holistic, personalized approach ensures every cleaning is a step toward better health.

If it’s been a while since your last cleaning or you’re due for your regular checkup, now is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Messer, Dr. Belous, and the rest of our team. Let us help you keep your smile and body in top condition with our comprehensive, caring dental cleanings. Call us today at (585) 244-3337 or use our online contact form to book your appointment!