Preventive Dentistry
Dental Cleaning in Gladstone
A fresh, smooth feeling that goes deeper than brushing.
Even the most careful brushing leaves some buildup behind. A professional cleaning clears it away and gives your gums a healthier place to start from.
Exceptional Dentistry in Gladstone, MO
What a professional cleaning does
Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. When it is not removed, it hardens into tartar, also called calculus, which clings to the teeth and cannot be brushed or flossed away at home. Tartar along and just below the gumline can irritate the gums and is closely linked to gum disease. A professional cleaning uses dental instruments to lift that buildup from every surface, including the spots between teeth and at the back of the mouth that are hard to reach. The teeth are then polished smooth, which also removes many surface stains and makes it harder for new plaque to settle in.
What to expect
Step by step: your cleaning appointment
- Your hygienist looks over your teeth and gums and notes any areas of concern
- Tartar is removed by hand instruments, ultrasonic scalers, or both
- Teeth are polished with a gritty paste to smooth the surfaces
- A thorough flossing clears anything left between the teeth
- You get tips for your home routine, tailored to what the hygienist saw
New patient special
$98
A $308 value for your first visit
Visiting us for the first time? Our new patient offer includes:
- Comprehensive exam
- Panoramic X-rays
- Bitewing digital X-rays
- Intraoral photos
- Smile evaluation
- Full gum evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ and bite evaluation
- Review of your treatment options
- A written treatment plan
Beyond fresh breath
Why regular cleanings pay off
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Healthier gums
Removing tartar at the gumline helps calm the inflammation that can lead to bleeding and gum disease.
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Fewer surprises
Cleanings are usually paired with an exam and X-rays, so small problems are spotted sooner.
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A brighter surface
Polishing lifts many of the everyday stains left by coffee, tea and food.
When a routine cleaning isn’t enough
If tartar has built up well below the gumline and the gums have started to pull away from the teeth, a standard cleaning may not reach it. In that case your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing, a deeper cleaning of the root surfaces. After treatment for gum disease, many people switch to periodontal maintenance visits to help keep it under control.
Book your visit
Schedule your next cleaning
Whether you are due for a routine visit or it has simply been too long, we’d be glad to see you. Book online or call to find a time that suits you.
The short answer
A dental cleaning is a professional removal of plaque and hardened tartar from the teeth and along the gumline, followed by polishing. Your hygienist looks over your teeth and gums, lifts buildup with hand instruments, ultrasonic scalers or both, then polishes and flosses every surface, including the spots between teeth and at the back of the mouth. Regular cleanings help prevent cavities and gum disease in places home brushing and flossing miss, and polishing removes many everyday surface stains.
Dental Cleaning FAQ
- Does a dental cleaning hurt?
- Most people find a dental cleaning comfortable. The hygienist works carefully around each tooth and along the gumline to lift away plaque and tartar. If your teeth or gums are sensitive, let your hygienist know so they can adjust their approach as they work.
- Why do my gums bleed during a cleaning?
- Bleeding gums during a cleaning are often a sign of inflammation caused by plaque and tartar. Tartar along and just below the gumline can irritate the gums, and inflamed tissue bleeds more easily when it is touched. Your hygienist can talk with you about what the bleeding may mean and how to improve it with your home routine.
- Is a cleaning the same as teeth whitening?
- No, a cleaning and teeth whitening are different treatments. Polishing removes some surface stains left by coffee, tea and food, but it does not change the natural shade of your teeth. If you would like a lighter shade overall, teeth whitening is the treatment designed for that.
- What is the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning?
- A regular cleaning focuses on the tooth surfaces above and just below the gumline, while a deep cleaning reaches further down to clean the roots. The deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, is used when tartar has built up well below the gumline and the gums have started to pull away from the teeth. After treatment for gum disease, many people switch to periodontal maintenance visits to help keep it under control.
- How often should I get my teeth cleaned?
- Your dentist and hygienist will suggest a cleaning schedule that fits your mouth. It is based on your gum health and how quickly plaque and tartar build up for you. Cleanings are usually paired with an exam and X-rays, so keeping to your schedule also helps small problems get spotted sooner.
Your dentist
Meet Dr. Emily Marx
A skilled family dentist, Dr. Marx is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable while achieving their best smile. Meet Dr. Marx
