What happens during professional teeth cleaning?

What is professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is also called a hygiene appointment. It adds to your cleaning at home and aims to help prevent tooth decay and periodontitis (gum disease).

First the dentist checks your teeth and gums and decides which steps are needed. The cleaning is done by a dentist or a specially trained dental professional.

Careful cleaning at home is still important. The Austrian health portal recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and cleaning between your teeth.

How does the cleaning work?

The exact steps depend on your situation and can vary between practices. At our practice in 1120 Vienna, we work like this:

1. We examine your teeth and gums, explain what we find and discuss the next steps.
2. We remove hard and soft deposits above and below the gum line. For this we use ultrasound, a powder and water jet device and hand instruments.
3. We polish the tooth surfaces with special pastes. New plaque finds it harder to stick to smooth surfaces.
4. Finally we apply fluoride to strengthen the enamel. You also get tips for cleaning your teeth at home.

Depending on the condition of your teeth, professional teeth cleaning takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

What is professional teeth cleaning for?

If your teeth are healthy, it aims to help prevent tooth decay and gum inflammation.

If you have periodontitis, it prepares the ground for treatment and aims to stop the inflammation coming back. According to the Austrian health portal, this needs lifelong follow-up care tailored to your individual risk.

How much extra benefit it brings for healthy teeth is not clear. According to the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), it is uncertain whether it protects against decay better than simple tartar removal.

Stains from coffee, black tea or smoking are removed during the cleaning. According to IQWiG, they often come back within a few weeks if these habits continue.

Does professional teeth cleaning hurt?

The cleaning can be uncomfortable, especially if the necks of the teeth are exposed. If your gums are irritated or inflamed, they may bleed a little.

If your teeth are very sensitive, a local anaesthetic is possible beforehand. Just ask us about it.

If you take blood thinners such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), please tell us before the treatment.

How often is professional cleaning useful?

The expert sources do not give a fixed interval for all adults. The Austrian health portal advises regular check-ups as recommended by your dentist, even if you have no problems.

According to the NHS, the time between check-ups can vary from 3 months to 2 years. It depends on how healthy your teeth and gums are and your risk of future problems.

To detect periodontitis early, experts quoted by the Austrian health portal recommend a basic periodontal examination once a year. We will discuss with you which interval suits you for hygiene appointments.

If you like, we will remind you of check-ups and hygiene appointments by text message. This recall service is free and you can opt out at any time. Just ask at reception or speak to our dental hygiene assistant.

What does health insurance cover?

Children and young people between their 10th and 18th birthdays can have one free hygiene appointment per treatment year on their e-card. With fixed braces, they can have two per treatment year, at least six months apart.

For adults, professional teeth cleaning at our practice is a private service. Your health insurance fund can tell you whether and how much it contributes.

Our practice works as a private dentist (Wahlärztin). You pay at the practice and receive an invoice (Honorarnote), which you submit to your fund. We bill SVS and KFA directly for services covered by health insurance.

You'll receive a cost estimate before treatment. We're happy to help you submit your invoice.