Going to the dentist for a cleaning

[radkitty]

This is my first cleaning since I got my braces on. What can I expect - anything different than prior cleanings?

[blindboarder2008]

I personlly love getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist esp now since i have the braces on. It really isn't painful. They basically do the same routine however they may use something a little bit different depending on what your dentist thinks and what they prefer to use. my dentist uses a similar thing to the polisher excepts its slightly different in that it has a skinnier tip to it and instead of the regular flavored stuff she has used a salt and water mixture. its pretty texturized in the sense that its actually little salt crystals just a bit bigger then the normal ones. pre warning it can be a bit messy but my dentist was really good about cleaning me up afterwards. It doesn't really hurt either at least it hasn't for me. It just feels a bit weird and feels kinda like you've been to the beach! My dentist perfers to clean my teeth with this method while I'm in braces because she can get in better between the wires. she still uses the polisher afterwards but it doesn't seem to clean as well because she can't get right into the teeth between the wires. So gettinga cleaning a the dentist isn't that bad really just be prepared that feel a little gritty in tyour mouth a bit afterwards but a quick rinse should solve that problem!

[browneyedgrl]

I love to get my teeth cleaned too!!! I was supposed to get my teeth cleaned about 2 weeks ago I ended up changing it since I'm getting debanded next week.

It just takes about 15 minutes longer since they have to floss through the braces and work around all the additional hardware. My dentist also prefers to clean my teeth with the archwires in as well.

Good luck with your appointment!

B

[blindboarder2008]

browneyedgirl brings up a good point about the archwires being in. You may want to ask your dentist and see if they want the arch wire to come off while they clean it (if your ortho is close enough that is). Some dentist are fine with the arch wire staying in but if your ortho is close enough to ur dentist office you could if you wanted ask your dentist about rather they'd prefer the arch wire removed or not.

[Audra]

I've had 2 cleanings with braces now. I leave the archwire in when I go to the dentist and they don't mind at all. For polishing they use a spray jet that contains a baking soda mixture. It gets everywhere and I end up with a find white misty powder on my face, but it's easy to clean up. It's easier for them to do it this way while you have braces. It gets my teeth super white as well. Other than that, no differnces, other than they obviously have to use a threader to floss under the archwire.

[blindboarder2008]

oops i realized after reading audra post that it was actually baking soda, not sure why i had salt on my mind and put that lol lol sorry if i confused anyone

[brainkneeak]

I called ahead of time to verify if my dentist would prefer to have the archwire removed. It all depends on the dentist preference...I guess. My dentist requested to have them removed when I'm due for my cleaning.

[radkitty]

Well, I had my cleaning today and I was super disappointed. I think my dentist was a little taken back by the braces as he was not the one that referred me to the ortho (my previous dentist had years ago). This guy wanted to do veneers.

The cleaning lasted 15 minutes. He scaled my teeth by hand (which I requested because I can't handle the ultrasonic scaler). He then "flossed" - NOT even under the wire - I couldn't believe it. So he basically flossed the bottom 1/3 of my teeth (floss stopped at the wire of course).

His assistant then polished my teeth which took all of 1 minute.

Total waste of money. I am mad - I liked this guy!

[TigerLily]

Wow that's not long at all. I have 45 mins with the hygienist.

[hane]

I did my first cleaning as well a few weeks ago with my braces(archwire and all).

They appointment took really long, like close to 40mins or so but my teeth felt really clean after that. The dental assistant didn't floss my teeth though but I wasn't too worried about that since I do my own flossing.

Is this flossing supposed to be the standard operating procedure or not everybody does it?

[changes09]

I have a cleaning every month. I keep my archwires in. That salt mixture someone was talking about in one of the posts, is actually baking soda. THe hygienist uses this machine called a cavitron and uses the baking soda water mixture to get underneath the gums. It gives your gums a tingling feeling becuase of the pressure of the water. But it gets your teeth so clean!
And I swear that when you get your teeth cleaned your teeth have a tendency to move faster. After my clenaings my teeth seem to move quicker. So that's a plus!
But yeah the appointment is a little longer with flossing, and getting inbetween the archwires.

[blindboarder2008]

I have a cleaning every month. I keep my archwires in. That salt mixture someone was talking about in one of the posts, is actually baking soda. THe hygienist uses this machine called a cavitron and uses the baking soda water mixture to get underneath the gums. It gives your gums a tingling feeling becuase of the pressure of the water. But it gets your teeth so clean!
And I swear that when you get your teeth cleaned your teeth have a tendency to move faster. After my clenaings my teeth seem to move quicker. So that's a plus!
But yeah the appointment is a little longer with flossing, and getting inbetween the archwires.

lol ya tha was me but i meant to say baking soda lol i think i may have been over tired when i wrote that post lol who knows though!