What Dentists Use to Clean Teeth

At Utah Orthodontic Care, our mission is to help patients throughout the greater Salt Lake City, UT area achieve gorgeous, healthy smiles through comprehensive orthodontic treatment. We’re proud to help create those smiles through affordable orthodontic care, but dental treatment is just as important to the health of your smile. Your dentist can provide a thorough, deep cleaning of the teeth to remove plaque buildup and help prevent cavities – but what do dentists use to achieve that deep clean?

The Tools Dentists Use to Clean Teeth

Getting your teeth cleaned every six months is a vital part of maintaining a great smile. But how do dentists manage to achieve such a thorough cleaning? While much of it is about skill and knowledge, dentists also use specialized tools to remove built-up plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the teeth. Here are a few of the most important:

• Scalers: The centerpiece of a dentist’s tooth cleaning arsenal, scalers are essentially metal hooks that are used to literally scrape away bacteria and plaque. Most teeth cleaning procedures are done with a standard, manual scaler, but dentists can also use specialized scalers that vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency to remove even more plaque.
• Polishers: Once your teeth cleaning is finished, your dentist will use a motorized polisher to buff the teeth smooth and help prevent bacteria from adhering to the teeth. Polishers are generally made from small rubber cups attached to a low-speed rotary motor, and they’re dipped into an abrasive paste that polishes the teeth.
• Mirrors: Cleaning teeth takes precision, and that means it’s important for your dentist to see what they’re doing. That’s why one of most low-tech tools is also one of the most important. Mirrors are a vital tool to help dentists properly clean your teeth and prevent cavities.

Book a Consultation with Your Salt Lake City Orthodontist

While there are other more specialized dental tools, these are the most important tools that dentists use to clean teeth, and they’re all vital to helping you achieve a healthy smile. But if you want to change the alignment of your teeth, you’ll need to talk to an orthodontist – and thankfully, we know some great ones to recommend! If you’re ready to achieve a beautiful new smile through orthodontic treatment, take the first step by requesting a free consultation online. We can’t wait to help you achieve your dream smile!