Services
Dental Cleanings in Pacific Beach
As one of the choice picks of a dentist Pacific Beach CA has to offer, we have many solutions for cleaning your teeth. Routine dental cleanings are a cornerstone of good oral health. Even people with immaculate at-home oral hygiene can benefit from a professional cleaning with a dentist. While regular brushing and flossing remove much debris from the teeth, a dentist is able to clean hard-to-reach places using advanced instruments. It is also during a dental cleaning that your dentist can recommend at-home oral care practices to enhance the health and beauty of your smile.
It is recommended you visit your dentist Pacific Beach CA every six months for an examination and cleaning. If you are due for your routine cleaning, we encourage you to reach out to Dr. Ricardo Hernandez of Pacific Beach Smile Studio. For years, Dr. Hernandez has been the trusted dentist for countless patients looking to maintain or improve their oral health. Let Dr. Hernandez and our friendly team do the same for you.
The Importance of Dental Cleanings
The goal of a dental cleaning is to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, both above and below where the gum meets the tooth. While some plaque and tartar is normal, too much buildup is detrimental to your oral and overall health. At some point, the damage is irreversible and can lead to gum (periodontal) disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. Beyond that, the infection from gum disease can enter the rest of the body, increasing the risk for several health conditions including stroke and heart disease. Simply put, a routine dental cleaning with a professional not only prolongs your oral health, but can maintain your overall wellbeing as well.
What to Expect from a Dental Cleaning
Your dental cleaning appointment at our office will be completed by one of our trained hygienists. A routine cleaning begins with a dental examination of your teeth, mouth and gums. This allows our team to find the areas in your mouth that require extra attention during your cleaning. The hygienist will also ask you questions about how you care for your teeth at home on a daily basis. If necessary, the hygienist will make recommendations on how to improve at-home oral hygiene at the cleaning.
Using a small mirror as a guide, the hygienist will get rid of plaque around the gum line, as well as in between the teeth, using a scaler. You may hear scraping but this is normal and painless at any dentist Pacific Beach CA you might go to. Next, the hygienist will thoroughly brush and floss your teeth. The toothpaste used in our office removes additional bacteria while smoothing (polishing) each tooth’s surface.
Debridement
For large amounts of tartar, the hygienist will need to perform debridement. This procedure removes tartar and plaque using ultrasonic tools.
Root Planing
If your gums are swollen, root planing will need to be performed. Root planing is necessary for patients who have gum disease or inflammation of the gums. The dental hygienist will use a scaling instrument to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the roots of your teeth.
Following the last cleaning step, you will rinse your mouth with water to remove any remaining debris. The last step is a fluoride treatment, which involves applying a foamy gel or paste that will help protect your teeth from cavities.
The scaling and polishing steps of the dental cleaning are painless and do not require anesthesia. However, if root planning and/or debridement are performed, the hygienist will numb your mouth to increase your comfort during the treatment.
Teeth Whitening in Pacific Beach
White teeth are an important part of a beautiful smile, and your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you are unhappy with stained or discolored teeth, Dr. Ricardo Hernandez of Pacific Beach Smile Studio can help. He offers in-office teeth whitening treatment to lighten teeth and give them a beautiful movie star-like quality. A safe and effective procedure, teeth whitening is a great option if you have an upcoming special occasion or you simply dislike the color of your teeth. Treatment can be performed in our Pacific Beach dental office and in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Hernandez can recommend the best approach for you based on your preferences, your goals and your unique needs.
Brighter, Whiter Teeth
Teeth whitening involves using a bleaching agent to lift stains and correct discoloration. Stains and discoloration may be the result of consuming lots of coffee, tea or wine, using certain medications (e.g., tetracycline) or simply the effects of aging on the teeth. Dr. Hernandez’s goal is to lighten the teeth to a more desirable color for a noticeably more beautiful smile. This can often be achieved through a single in-office whitening session; some patients choose to follow up their in-office treatment with at-home maintenance.
In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment Details
In-office teeth whitening is quick, convenient and comfortable. The advantage to having a professional cosmetic dentist Pacific Beach CA lighten your teeth is that they can control the power of the bleaching agent; this is especially important for people that have unusually sensitive teeth and are concerned about discomfort during the bleaching process.
Your teeth will be cleaned in preparation for treatment, and examined for any possible problems that could adversely affect the bleaching process. A cheek retractor will be placed to expose your teeth, and special resin is applied to your gums to protect them from the bleaching gel. The gel will be applied to your teeth to coat them, and left on for 20 to 30 minutes before it is removed. This process may be repeated several times. In between applications, your teeth will be examined to determine whether they need another application. Once the desired results have been achieved, the resin and cheek retractors will be removed and the shade of your teeth will be measured.
In some cases, Dr. Hernandez chooses to use the GLO™ teeth whitening system. Treatment with GLO™ is similar to traditional teeth whitening. The only difference is that after the bleaching gel is applied to the teeth, it is activated with a specialized blue light. GLO™ treatment takes about an hour. Before and after photographs are taken to evaluate the results.
At-Home Maintenance
Every patient is different. Some respond perfectly to the first in-office whitening treatment, whereas others may wish to continue whitening using at-home professional-grade whitening gel. Dr. Hernandez provides the gel as well as specific instructions for use. We are the dentist Pacific Beach CA business that provides solutions.
At-home whitening helps many people maintain their newly brightened smile from exposure to substances like red wine, soda, coffee, tea and fruit juice. Periodic whitening touch-ups can help the teeth retain their dazzling quality.
Make your first impression a memorable one with a beautifully white smile. For more information about in-office teeth whitening and the GLO™ system, please contact Pacific Beach Smile Studio today by calling 858-272-6047. A member of our friendly team would be happy to schedule a whitening appointment for you with Dr. Hernandez.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning with Pacific Beach Smile Studio Today
Dr. Hernandez’ goal is to provide quality, comfortable dentist Pacific Beach CA services for patients of all ages. To schedule a routine cleaning for you and your family, please call Pacific Beach Smile Studio at 858-272-6047.