HOW IMPORTANT IS ORAL HYGIENE?
Oral hygiene is necessary for eliminating bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria builds to form plaque that can harden and lead to long-term ailments such as gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, and periodontal disease if it is not removed. The bacteria also releases acid and this results in tooth decay or “cavities”.

A good dental care routine and regular check ups will keep your mouth healthy and prevent inflammation, infection, decay, and tooth loss.
Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases (periodontal disease) than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good tooth brushing and flossing techniques, performed daily.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GINGIVITIS AND PERIODONTITIS (GUM DISEASE)?
Gingivitis refers to the inflammation of the gums (gingiva). If during brushing and flossing your gums bleed, this is a sign of Gingivitis. As it is merely inflammation of the gums, no gum or bone loss in the jaw occurs. It is reversible and can be treated by brushing and flossing twice a day for two weeks. If the inflammation generally persists, there may be an underlying systemic condition contributing to this.

Periodontitis refers to the chronic inflammation of gums which over a certain time, leads loss of gingival attachment to teeth as well as loss of bone around the roots of teeth. Commonly known as Gum Disease, Periodontitis is not reversible. It is very common and affects more than half the adult population (and some children as well).

While late stage Gum Disease may require surgery by a gum specialist (periodontist), early stage gum disease can be reversed without surgery in our Hamilton Dentist clinic by utilizing modern a treatment program to deliver effective and comfortable gum therapy. This treatment program is named Soft Tissue Management (STM).

SOFT TISSUE MANAGEMENT (STM)
The goal of STM treatment is to remove the cause of inflammation in the bone and gums while at the same time disinfecting swollen gums. This facilitates natural healing processes of the body to decrease inflammation and make gum pockets more shallow, allow the gums to reconnect to the teeth, stop the progression of periodontitis, and decrease the amount of bacteria entering the bloodstream.

STM starts with a thorough cleaning by using an ultrasonic cleaner which removes bacteria, plaque, and tartar from each tooth. Following this the hygienist cleans below the gum and smoothens the root surfaces of each tooth. Next, the pockets in the gums are irrigated with a warmed antibacterial disinfectant to promote healing. We provide STM patients a specially designed electric toothbrush and instructions for home use, as well as an antibacterial rinse.

ARE DENTAL CLEANINGS PAINFUL?
A properly done cleaning should not be painful, but sometimes an individual may experience some sensitivity as the Dental Hygienist scales and root planes the crowns and roots of their teeth. If this happens, we can always place a desensitizing agent on the teeth to help accommodate the patient and maximize their comfort.

HOW LONG DO DENTAL CLEANINGS TAKE?
The answer to this is patient-specific. In particular, it depends on the amount of plaque and tartar deposits found on teeth. Some individuals have more plaque and tartar because of poor oral hygiene or have not had a dental cleaning in a long time. Some may also have more plaque and tartar build up because of their nutritional habits or amount of saliva production. A typical cleaning appointment will usually last 40-60 minutes. Patients undergoing STM treatment can expect treatment time to be anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours.

DOES A DENTAL CLEANING WHITEN YOUR TEETH?
Yes, dental cleanings help teeth appear whiter by removing the stains that darken your teeth. During a cleaning, plaque, bacteria and tartar are removed which prevent whitening products from effectively penetrating into the enamel of the tooth.

HOW MUCH IS A DENTAL CLEANING?
The price of a dental cleaning depends on a few factors, mainly the time and technique needed for each specific patient. Specifically, cleaning and polishing fees are tied to the amount of time needed. The time allotted for teeth cleaning and polishing is based on units (15 minute increments). 3 units of scaling means it takes 45 minutes for a regular cleaning with a hygienist.

People with more plaque and tartar require more units, sometimes even more appointments, than people with healthy teeth and gums. It should be noted that a dental “cleaning” incorporates both scaling and polishing of teeth, which are both based on units allocations and can be done together in one sitting or separate.

Typically, one unit of scaling costs $57, and two units of scaling is $114. In a healthy adult patient, we normally bill 2.5 units of scaling, averaging around $142.5. One additional polishing unit costs $30, making a total of $172.5 for the typical healthy adult. Sometimes we may recommend X-rays, checkup exams or fluoride delivery for children which may affect the cost.