Professional cleaning
Professional tooth cleaning is an essential part of the prevention concept and matters for every patient.
Professional cleaning is a fixed part of every preventive concept. It is usually carried out by practice staff specially trained for it.
How it proceeds
It begins with the dentist recording the findings: how do the teeth and gums stand? You then rinse with a disinfecting solution, and a disclosing agent makes the deposits visible – including those usually overlooked.
They are removed with hand and powered instruments; the teeth are then polished and protected with fluoride.
How often
The interval depends on the risk and on your cooperation: three to six months is usual. Anyone who cooperates well and carries a low risk of disease generally comes twice a year.
The key points at a glance
- Professional cleaning reaches between the teeth and the area below the gum margin.
- Polishing follows the cleaning – not for looks, but because bacteria settle faster on rough surfaces.
- It is a private service; many German insurers give a subsidy.
- During supportive periodontal therapy the aftercare is covered by statutory insurance.
Answered briefly
Frequently asked questions
It is a private service billed according to the work involved; the range is usually in the low three figures. Some insurers give a subsidy. Ask for the amount beforehand.
Usually not. With exposed tooth necks or inflamed gums it can be sensitive; say so, and the work will be gentler or done under local anaesthetic.
Only as white as they are without discolouration. Deposits from coffee, tea and tobacco are removed; the tooth's own colour does not change. That would require bleaching, which presupposes healthy gums.