Teeth Cleaning in Beachwood, OH

A professional cleaning removes the hardened tartar that brushing and flossing can’t reach, and it’s the visit where small problems get caught while they’re still small. At Diamond Dental in Beachwood, every cleaning comes with an exam by Dr. Barry Diamond.

Call (216) 206-8075 or book a cleaning online.

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Teeth Cleaning Services

What Happens at a Professional Teeth Cleaning?

A routine cleaning usually takes under an hour and follows the same few steps:

A quick review. We go over your health history and ask about anything that’s been bothering you, such as sensitivity, bleeding gums or a tooth that feels different.
X-rays when they’re due. Not every visit needs them. When they’re due, they show decay between teeth and bone levels that can’t be seen by eye.
Scaling. Plaque and tartar are removed from around each tooth and along the gumline with small hand instruments.
Polishing and flossing. A gritty paste and a soft rubber cup smooth the tooth surfaces, then each tooth is flossed.
The exam. Dr. Diamond checks for decay, cracked or worn fillings and early signs of gum disease, and tells you plainly whether anything needs attention. If you ever need a crown or aligners, they’re planned from a quick iTero 3D scan instead of messy impressions.

Ask About a Cleaning

How Often Should You Come In?

For most people, every six months. That’s often enough to remove tartar before it irritates the gums, and to catch a cavity while it’s still a small filling.

Tartar can’t be brushed off at home. Plaque that isn’t removed hardens within a few days, and once it has, only a professional cleaning takes it off. Left in place, it keeps the gums inflamed.

If you’ve been treated for gum disease, cleanings are usually scheduled every three to four months instead. This is called periodontal maintenance. The bacteria that cause gum disease rebuild below the gumline faster than six months, so shorter gaps keep it under control. Some people benefit from more frequent visits even without gum disease, for example smokers, people with diabetes or a dry mouth, and anyone who builds tartar quickly. Dr. Diamond will tell you which schedule fits your mouth.

Routine Visit vs Scaling and Root Planing

Routine visit

For healthy gums. Plaque and tartar are removed above the gumline and just below it, then the teeth are polished. No numbing is usually needed, and it’s done in one visit.

Scaling and root planing

For gum disease. Also called scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline, down along the tooth roots, and smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach. It’s done under local anesthesia, often one side of the mouth at a time. Learn about gum disease treatment.

Signs you may need a deep cleaning include gums that bleed when you brush, gums that look red or puffy, bad breath that doesn’t go away, and gums pulling back from the teeth.

Is It Uncomfortable?

Usually not. You’ll feel scraping and pressure, and you may hear the instruments, but a routine cleaning shouldn’t be painful. If you have sensitive spots, tell us at the start and we’ll take it slower there. Some tenderness for a day or so afterward is normal, especially if it’s been a while since your last cleaning.

A deep cleaning is different because it works below the gumline, so it’s done under local anesthesia and the area is numb while it’s cleaned.

Signs you may need more than a routine cleaning: gums that bleed when you brush or floss, gums that look red or puffy, bad breath that doesn’t go away, gums pulling back from the teeth, or teeth that feel loose. These point to gum disease, which is treated with a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. See gum disease treatment.