Dental hygiene: hygienists, professional teeth cleaning and what to expect
What is professional teeth cleaning?
Everyone knows that dental hygiene is a must. But even if your daily routine of brushing, a mouthwash rinse and flossing is strong, it's not always enough to maintain adequate oral hygiene.
Seeing a hygienist for a dental clean, or 'scale and polish' as it's also known can be the difference between fresh breath and needing fillings.
A professional teeth cleaning is an appointment with a dental hygienist whose primary concerns are preventive dental health and treating gum disease. They work to remove plaque from your teeth, which helps avoid gum disease, gingivitis and receding gums. They can also advise you on how best to keep your teeth healthy through diet.
Why is a hygienist appointment necessary?
Anything you eat and drink; such as coffee or tea can generate stains that are difficult to remove with a simple brushing. Stubborn plaque, (known as tartar) always manages to find space in our mouth to settle.
To remove both superficial stains and tartar, a procedure is recommended at least once a year to clean mildly stained teeth: a hygiene appointment, also known as a scale and polish.
What happens during a professional clean at the dentist?
This procedure should always be carried out by a professional, who will perform an inspection, examining each tooth and check the patient's gingival health. Checking the overall level of oral health helps to determine if the patient needs hygiene or a more intensive root planing, and what factors should be taken into account during the process.
Once the professional has determined that the patient requires hygiene, he or she will begin the teeth cleaning process, which consists of two main parts: using dental cleaning instruments like ultrasonic teeth cleaning, airflow teeth cleaning and cleaning with prophylaxis paste. Here's what to expect when you go for a dental hygiene appointment:
The dental hygiene appointment begins with a review of your medical history
Any good hygienist should ask you about your medical history, any symptoms you're currently experiencing, and any problems with maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Ultrasonic tooth cleaning with airflow
A scaler is used as an instrument for dental cleaning that has a vibrating tip and expels water. The pressurised water is introduced into the gingival margins, removing and dislodging tartar or calculus. The water pressure and vibration also help to encourage stain removal from food, tea, coffee and tobacco.
Scaling with a coarse-textured 'toothpaste'
Once the dental hygienist has passed the scaler over your teeth, a brush with a rotating head is used to help spread a prophylaxis paste. This paste helps to remove both stains and bacterial plaque.
Rinse and dental review
You'll be given a solution to rinse your mouth, allowing the dental technician to check they have properly removed all signs of plaque, residue and staining. The treatment should last more than 30 minutes.
Discussing dental issues and plaque prevention recommendations
Once this process is complete, your hygienist will talk you through what they have observed for you to improve your daily hygiene routine. They'll also give you recommendations on managing tooth decay and gum disease, protecting tooth enamel and tooth surfaces with the right approach to brushing.
Are there different types of hygienist appointments?
Dental cleaning refers to a "scale and polish" or "hygiene appointment", however, it's important to note there are two different procedures involving cleaning at the dentists.
The other treatment is called root planing and scaling, commonly known as "deep dental cleaning". It involves removing the plaque and tartar from the surface down to the periodontal pockets.
The “deeper” clean of the two, root planing and scaling, Once the gum line has been thoroughly cleaned, the next step is to start root planning. This type of teeth cleaning is only recommended for patients with periodontal problems as it is more complex.
The other type of dental cleaning, a basic hygiene appointment, or scale and polish, is used as a preventive method. It is the simpler of the two treatments and is the most common.
What should you do after scaling and polishing?
Here are some tips on how to improve daily oral hygiene and prolong the results of a professional clean:
- After a dental cleaning, brushing your teeth frequently will help prolong the effects of this treatment. Brushing should be done at least twice a day (morning and evening), but ideally just after every meal, especially if the patient wears braces or aligners.
- The brush to be used should be soft and with straight bristles (3 or 4 rows). Ideally, it should not contain rubber bands or other "extras" as these elements can interfere with the brushing technique.
- In terms of technique, the brush should be placed in a 45-degree position, allowing the bristles to enter the gingival sulcus (between the tooth and the gum). The gingival sulcus is the area where most plaque accumulates, so it is important to brush both the outer and inner (behind the tooth).
- It is also important to floss at least once a day. When choosing the dental floss you will use in your daily hygiene, we recommend choosing unwaxed floss, as these trap more plaque.
Dental cleaning cost
Dental hygiene cleaning prices can vary. However, the average price of scale and polish in the UK is from £100 to £130 depending on the city where you have it done, the instruments used during this process, and the clinic you choose, although the procedure is almost always the same.
Scale and polish with braces or aligners
Wearing fixed braces can make daily dental hygiene difficult as the brackets (attached to the tooth) and arch wires make brushing and flossing more difficult. This means scaling and polishing during braces is key. This being the case, specialists often recommend professional teeth cleaning during fixed orthodontic treatment.
However, this is not the case with removable orthodontics, such as Impress clear aligners. Dental hygiene with removable orthodontics is easier as the patient can remove the aligners to brush their teeth normally. This makes it easier to maintain proper daily oral hygiene, and, as long as a cleaning has been performed before starting treatment, it is not necessary to perform another cleaning in the middle of the treatment.
If you are thinking of changing your smile, contact us and find out more about our orthodontic treatments and the preworks available at your nearest Impress clinic. You can contact us by making an appointment through our website, by phone or Whatsapp at +44 20 3808 1072.
Updated: May 2025
Frequently asked questions about dental cleaning
Does a scale and polish hurt?
In patients with good oral health, teeth cleaning should not hurt, although it can be a little uncomfortable. However, it's possible that some patients may experience pain, especially if they suffer from tooth sensitivity or if they have a cavity.
What’s the number of recommended dental cleanings per year?
It depends on the individual case. In patients with good gingival health, the ideal is to have a dental cleaning every 8/12 months. If the patient has periodontal problems, the cleaning should be more frequent, approximately every 3 / 5 months.
How long should a hygiene appointment be?
The treatment usually lasts between 35 and 45 minutes.
What about dental cleaning procedures during pregnancy?
Yes, not only can it be done, but many dentists recommend it as there may be a greater chance of gingivitis or caries due to hormonal changes. The only thing to keep in mind in these cases is that the use of anaesthesia should be avoided.
Can you eat after a dental cleaning?
Yes, you can eat after a dental cleaning. There are no food restrictions, although people who drink a lot of coffee or smoke are advised to reduce their consumption to avoid the appearance of new stains on their teeth.
