{"id":157,"date":"2016-11-30T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/wp-blog\/happens-dental-cleaning\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T06:15:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T11:15:49","slug":"happens-dental-cleaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/happens-dental-cleaning\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">You\u2019re called back into the office by your dental hygienist\u2026 but what happens then?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Chances are, you\u2019ve had a dental cleaning before since they are a crucial part of family dentistry at our <a href=\"\/\">Elk Grove Village dental office<\/a>, but it might be a mystery what exactly is being done while you sit patiently in the chair with your mouth open.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">We\u2019d like to take a moment to \u201cdemystify\u201d the process. Many patients express their worries and anxiety when it comes to dental care, including routine procedures like dental cleanings, and we\u2019ve found that knowing what to expect often helps relieve some of that worry so you can have a better experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Examination and Evaluation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Your cleaning is an important part of your preventive care routine, and one of the reasons for this is the examination that takes place. Your hygienist will carefully examine your gums for any signs of gum disease or other issues. If an issue is detected, Dr. Advani will be notified so that we can determine the most appropriate course of action.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Plaque and tartar removal<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">This is the \u201cmain event\u201d when it comes to your cleaning! Depending on your needs, we may start with an ultrasonic scaler or manual instruments to remove the build-up from your teeth. An ultrasonic scaler knocks off bigger pieces of plaque and tartar while manual instruments allow for finer close-up work. Sometimes the <\/span><span style=\"color:#000000;\">scaler<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000;\"> tickles a little, but it doesn\u2019t hurt. If you have sensitive teeth, we can take extra steps to make sure your cleaning is comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Polishing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">We\u2019ll finish up with a flavored gritty polish and a high-speed brush. This brush makes a high-pitched noise that some patients don\u2019t like, and if it bothers you, let us know so we can find a solution (like headphones or another distraction). The polish gives you a deep clean and wonderfully smooth teeth that <\/span><span style=\"color:#000000;\">feels<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000;\"> so good after a cleaning!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Flossing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Before you\u2019re done, your hygienist will expertly floss your teeth to make sure absolutely no traces are left behind in the spaces between your teeth and just below the gumline. If you need a refresher on good brushing and flossing technique, this is also a great time for a hands-on demonstration!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Fluoride<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">The final step is to paint your teeth with a fluoride varnish. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps keep your enamel healthy and protects your teeth from cavities. While you can eat and drink soon after your appointment, avoid foods and beverages that are particularly hot or crunchy since these can wear away the varnish early.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Dental Cleanings in Elk Grove Village IL<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Are you due for a cleaning? <a href=\"\/survey.php\">Give us a call <\/a>at (847) 437-3250 to schedule your next visit!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get more details on what our Elk Grove Village IL dental team looks for and does during your twice-yearly dental cleaning and exam. Click here to read our blog!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elkgrovesmilecenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}