Are Dental Cleanings & Teeth Whitening the Same Thing?

29 Jul.,2024

 

Are Dental Cleanings & Teeth Whitening the Same Thing?

Dental cleanings don&#;t whiten your teeth, but a clean set of teeth is often much whiter. Similarly, teeth whitening doesn&#;t clean teeth but enhances the natural beauty of your teeth. 

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Dentistry is often broken down into restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Under the umbrella of restorative dentistry is preventative dentistry. Just as the name implies, preventive dentistry is the practice of providing dental care to maintain the health and beauty of your smile. Dental cleanings are part of preventative dentistry and are an annual or semi-annual practice that is part of your oral health routine. 

Alternatively, teeth whitening is only one of the many cosmetic dental procedures that transform and enhance the appearance of your smile.

Prophylaxis (Dental Cleaning)

A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning procedure that thoroughly cleans your teeth. Regular cleanings can decrease the chances of gum disease, gingivitis, and complication due to hardened plaque called tartar.

Teeth cleaning can halt the progression of gum disease and remove the tartar buildup that brushing and flossing alone can&#;t remove. 

Benefits of Dental Cleanings

  • Tartar Removal &#; Tartar, or calculus below and above the gum line can cause serious gum problems when left untreated. When left untreated, bacteria can weaken the gums and bones and cause shifting, pain, inflammation, and even tooth loss.

  • Aesthetics &#; yellow and stained teeth are often a source of unhappiness. Although teeth cleanings won&#;t whiten your smile directly, cleaning and polishing your teeth can often lighten or get rid of teeth stains almost instantly. 

  • Fresher Breath &#; Chronic bad breath can be a sign or a more serious periodontal issue. Usually, bad breath is also accompanied by rotting food particles below the gum line, hidden infection, and other oral health issues. Removing plaque, calculus, and bacteria during a dental cleaning will noticeably improve your breath by removing those foreign materials and introducing cleaning agents. The same cleaning will also remove any irritation that those foreign materials may have been causing.

  • In-Depth Identification of Oral Health Issues &#; As your dentist or dental hygienist cleans your teeth inch by inch, it is also a perfect opportunity to check on the health of each tooth individually. As the cleaning continues, your doctor will look for signs of oral cancer, periodontitis, or symptoms that may be tied to a health concern like diabetes or kidney issues. If there is something to see, a dental cleaning will reveal it. 

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a procedure to improve and enhance the appearance of already healthy teeth. If you are a good candidate for teeth whitening, share your interest with your doctor to make sure you are caught up with any necessary treatments in order to make your whitening procedure perfect.

In-Office Whitening with Zoom Professional

Our Chestnut Dental locations are glad to offer Zoom Professional In-Office Whitening By Phillips as a professional teeth whitening option. This blue LED light whitening technology can whiten teeth up to 8 shades in a single 1-2 hour visit.  Results are immediate, and the technology can be adjusted to accommodate individualized patient sensitivity levels and desired results.

The treatment is very straightforward and doesn&#;t hurt a bit. Your smile will be brighter as soon as you leave your seat.

Teeth Whitening Process

Here&#;s what you can expect during a teeth whitening visit.

Step 1: Consultation and Tooth Shade Review

The first step is to gauge your current tooth color and decide how much whiter you would like to have them. Your doctor will show you a tooth-shaped color example to match your current tooth shade and you can choose from the colors on the chart. The length of the treatment and the intensity of the light used is determined by the difference between the start and ending color. Zoom Professional can whiten a tooth up to 8 shades lighter after a single visit! 

Step 2: Whitening

Before anything is in place, your doctor or a technician will go over the entire procedure with you and answer any last-minute questions you may have. The treatment times vary, but most patients complete the treatment in as little as 45 minutes. Safety is our main concern at Chestnut Dental, so you will receive a pair of protective glasses that will keep the powerful whitening light from harming your eyes during the treatment. Your dentist will then isolate your teeth by placing a dental dam that will allow you to rest your open jaw in place. A light-reactive whitening solution is strategically layered on your teeth and the light is positioned right over your teeth for full effect.

Step 3: Cleaning & Post-Treatment Relief

The timer is up and the light and dental dam are removed. Although it is uncommon to experience any significant discomfort, Chestnut Dental provides you with a sensitivity treatment gel in a custom tooth tray to wear after your treatment. This does not take long and isn&#;t always necessary, but it provides some comfort after your teeth have been under such intense light. After a few minutes, you can remove that tray, rinse, and place it in your take-home kit. This take-home kit will include more sensitivity gel as well as some Zoom! whitening solution for smile maintenance.

A Chestnut Dental team member will go over any maintenance instructions with you before you leave and our customer service-oriented staff are always happy to help you over the or in the office. Smile and enjoy your new, beautiful smile. 

Confused Between Teeth Cleaning and Teeth Whitening?

Patients often mix up between teeth cleaning and teeth whitening. Even though the two procedures are similar in some ways, their goals are very different.The main goal of cleaning your teeth is to get rid of plaque and tartar that have built up on the surfaces of your teeth. This procedure makes it less likely that you will get cavities or gum disease.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of The Difference Between Teeth Whitening and Cleaning. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

On the other hand, teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that gets rid of stains and discoloration on the teeth. Simply put, cleaning your teeth makes your mouth healthier, and getting your teeth whitened in Powai, Mumbai makes them look better and brighter.

Below, we&#;ll talk about teeth cleanings and teeth whitening in more depth.

Professional Teeth Cleanings

The Indian Dental Association says that every six months, you should have your teeth cleaned by a professional. If you are at risk for tooth decay or have had gum disease in the past, your dentist will tell you how often you should get your teeth cleaned.

Most of the time, your dental hygienist will clean your teeth. A dental hygienist is a primary health care provider who has special training and a licence to clean and polish people&#;s teeth.

 

Different Types of Teeth Cleanings

Prophylaxis is the most common way that people in Mumbai, India clean their teeth. Most people have this done every six months. During your teeth cleaning, your dental hygienist will use scrapers and picks, among other tools, to remove tartar and plaque from your teeth.

Plaque is a white, sticky film that builds up on your teeth. Over time, tartar also forms on the surface of your teeth because of plaque. Your hygienist is the only one who can get rid of plaque and tartar buildup.

During your cleaning, once the plaque is gone, your hygienist will start to polish your teeth. They will use an electric toothbrush with a lot of power and toothpaste that feels like sand. When your cleaning is done, your hygienist will floss your teeth.

Most of the time, your prophylaxis cleaning will take between 30 and 60 minutes. This procedure is painless, and unless you have gingivitis, you shouldn&#;t expect to feel any pain.

Root scaling and planning: Your dentist may suggest this dental procedure if they see signs of gum disease. Gum disease (Gum Treatment) causes the gums to become swollen, red, or bleed. With this infection, pockets can form between the gums and teeth over time. Note that getting your teeth cleaned regularly can help prevent gum disease by getting rid of plaque and tartar buildup.

Scaling and planning the roots is also called &#;deep cleaning&#; or &#;advanced cleaning.&#; The tools your hygienist uses are the main difference between a deep clean and a prophylaxis.

During root scaling and planning, a local anaesthetic is used to make the process less painful and uncomfortable.

The Importance of Regular Teeth Cleanings

Your oral health and well-being depend on getting your teeth cleaned. The goals of prevention and deep cleaning are to:

  • Stop plaque and tartar from building up on your teeth, which can lead to tooth decay.

  • Treat gum disease and stop it from getting worse.

  • Get rid of persistent bad breath (halitosis).

  • Find out about serious dental problems like cavities, infections, gum disease, and oral cancer.

Teeth Whitening


Lastly, it&#;s time to talk about Teeth whitening in Powai, Mumbai. The goal of this procedure is to get rid of surface stains and discoloration and whiten the teeth. Teeth can get stained over time, which can be caused by things like drinking coffee, smoking, and taking certain medications.

Teeth whitening does not help your oral health, but it can make you feel better about yourself and boost your confidence. Still, tooth stains don&#;t mean there are health problems unless they are caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar.

Patients can have their teeth whitened by a dentist or use products they can buy at the store. But getting your teeth whitened at your dentist&#;s Clinic in Powai, Mumbai is the safest and most effective way to do it.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website How to Start a Teeth Whitening Business the Right Way.