Professional teeth cleaning

What is professional teeth cleaning?

A professional dental cleaning (PZR) is an intensive cleaning with special instruments. It includes the removal of hard and soft dental plaque (tartar and plaque). In particular, areas that are difficult to reach during everyday tooth brushing can be optimally cleaned during a professional dental cleaning. Professional teeth cleaning also includes polishing and fluoridation of the teeth, as well as advice on daily oral hygiene. It is carried out by a dentist or trained staff, e.g. a prophylaxis assistant or dental hygienist. It is also seen as a prophylactic measure and can be used as a pre-treatment for periodontitis. It can also be used to eliminate superficial gum inflammation and prevent tooth decay. It is therefore a medically sensible and necessary component of the dental treatment spectrum.

Why is professional teeth cleaning useful?

If you brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day and use dental floss and/or small brushes to clean the hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth (so-called interdental brushes), you are already doing a lot for your oral health. However, there are some tooth surfaces in the mouth that are difficult to reach during daily dental care. Bacterial plaque, also known as biofilm or plaque, forms in these areas. This is where professional teeth cleaning (PZR) comes into play. Using special instruments and materials, the dentist or a specially trained dental hygienist removes plaque from the teeth. Prophylaxis assistant removes hard and soft plaque from all tooth surfaces, even those that are difficult to access, in the spaces between the teeth and in some cases in the so-called gum pockets. This is where the name “professional” tooth cleaning comes from, as instruments such as ultrasonic and powder water jet devices are used, which you as a patient do not have available at home. It serves as a support to daily tooth cleaning, but does not replace it.

A PZR has both medical and cosmetic benefits. The medical benefits include the prevention of tooth decay and periodontitis, the smoothing and mineralization of teeth and the maintenance of healthy oral flora. In addition, a PZR can significantly reduce the risk of many serious systemic diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, bad breath, which is caused by high levels of bacteria and plaque in the mouth, can be combated. Cosmetic benefits include smoother tooth surfaces and significantly brighter, shinier teeth. This is because discoloration caused by tea, coffee or nicotine can also be removed during treatment. Regular teeth cleaning is particularly beneficial for wearers of braces and dentures, as problem areas are difficult or impossible to reach with a conventional toothbrush. Regular care also extends the longevity of bridges and crowns. Having your teeth professionally cleaned is particularly beneficial for people with sensitive tooth necks, chronic diseases, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. During pregnancy, hormones are released that make the tissue looser in preparation for birth, including the gums. As a result, pregnant women’s gums are more vulnerable and tend to bleed, making it easier for periodontitis-causing bacteria to take hold. Experts recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned at the dental practice at the beginning and in the last trimester of pregnancy. Overall, regular professional teeth cleaning (PZR) is an extremely important and proven highly effective preventative health measure. This applies in two senses: for the teeth and for the whole body. Depending on the individual risk profile, a professional teeth cleaning should be carried out approx. every 3-9 months. These regular individual dental prophylaxis measures should be supplemented by regular dental check-ups (approx. every 6 months).

Does professional teeth cleaning hurt?

In principle, a PZR treatment is almost painless. Under certain circumstances, professional teeth cleaning can be unpleasant, depending largely on the patient’s sensitivity to pain and their individual oral hygiene. Another reason could be the different pressure exerted by the dental hygienist. If this is the case for you, let the professional know that you are experiencing pain so that they can take your individual needs into consideration.

For patients with sensitive tooth necks, it is also advisable to clarify this with the dentist in advance and to anaesthetize certain areas if necessary. Due to bad experiences, many patients are afraid of feeling pain again during the PZR. It is therefore advisable to discuss your concerns with the specialist in charge. In this way, sensitive or uncomfortable areas can be cleaned more carefully or more frequent breaks can be taken. You can also make yourself heard at any time and make it clear to the specialist that you find the tooth cleaning unpleasant. After the treatment, the tooth necks may be temporarily sensitive. This sensitivity usually subsides after a few hours or days. If you know in advance that you are sensitive, ask the prophylaxis assistant or dentist for a special desensitizing agent after the tooth cleaning.

How often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?

Dentists recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. This is because changes and problems with teeth and gums should be detected and treated as early as possible. In some cases, shorter intervals are also advisable. For example, in the case of smokers or patients at risk (diabetes mellitus or autoimmune diseases), shorter intervals may also be advisable in consultation with the dentist. This also applies to patients with an increased risk of periodontitis and caries, as well as people with unfavorable oral hygiene conditions.

What is the procedure for professional teeth cleaning?

Before the dentist begins cleaning, a comprehensive examination of the oral cavity and an assessment of the current state of oral hygiene is carried out. If any deficiencies are discovered during this examination, the patient will be informed about proper oral and tongue hygiene. The prophylaxis assistant or dentist will explain to you how to use the correct cleaning utensils and give you nutritional tips for a healthy lifestyle. The next step is the removal of hard and soft plaque. For this, the prophylaxis specialist uses either an ultrasonic device or hand instruments such as scalers and curettes and removes the hard plaque (tartar) from the tooth surfaces and the tooth neck area. Powder-water jet devices are also frequently used. Soft plaque can be removed with small brushes or polishing. If you have an implant in your teeth, special, gentle plastic instruments are used. These are designed to prevent damage to the implant surface or the surrounding tissue. Therefore, the use of ultrasonic and powder water jet devices is not suitable in this case. The ceramic implants made of zirconium dioxide that we prefer to use have the favorable property of hardly accumulating any plaque, which represents an enormous hygienic advantage over the widely used titanium implants. As bacteria can collect particularly easily on rough surfaces and in niches, smoothing the tooth surfaces is especially important. To do this, the specialist polishes the tooth surfaces with a slightly abrasive polishing paste using a rotating brush or special prophylaxis polishing cups. Excess polishing paste in the interdental spaces is removed with dental floss. The final step is fluoridation, for which a high-dose preparation is used. This supports the remineralization of the tooth enamel and helps to make the teeth more resistant.

After the treatment, you should not eat or drink for an hour so that your mouth can calm down. After all, your teeth and gums have been worked on for almost an hour. On the day of the PZR, you should also avoid drinks with intense colors such as coffee, juice and tea. You should also avoid smoking, as your teeth are very sensitive to discoloration immediately after the treatment.

How long does a professional dental cleaning take?

The duration of a professional dental cleaning varies depending on a number of factors. Generally speaking, a professional dental cleaning for an adult takes about an hour if you include the preparation and follow-up time. The length of the treatment depends on how much needs to be done, how many instruments are used and the experience and thoroughness of the practitioner. In addition, the treatment concept can take different lengths of time in each dental practice, as some practices offer “minor” or “major” dental cleanings. These differ in terms of the number of instruments used, which can affect the duration of the treatment and reduce it by around half.

How much does professional teeth cleaning cost?

The cost of professional teeth cleaning also depends on the amount of work involved, the equipment and materials used and the qualifications of the prophylaxis assistant. This is influenced by the scope of services (the treatment steps), the condition of the teeth and gums, as well as the presence of braces and dentures. Prices therefore vary from patient to patient.

Due to the advertising guidelines applicable in Austria, no prices may be quoted here. The assumption of costs by health insurance companies varies greatly depending on the existing insurance and the tariff taken out.