{"id":901,"date":"2026-10-21T16:57:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T21:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.21stcenturydental.com\/blog\/what-actually-happens-during-a-routine-cleaning\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T17:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:01:03","slug":"what-actually-happens-during-a-routine-cleaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.21stcenturydental.com\/blog\/what-actually-happens-during-a-routine-cleaning\/","title":{"rendered":"What Actually Happens During a Routine Cleaning?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fear of the unknown is a big hindrance to any form of care. Unfortunately, that also goes for dentistry. So many patients make the effort of scheduling an appointment, only to come down with a case of cold feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I figured I’d start dispelling some of that mystery by talking about some of the procedures that happen every day in our office, starting with checkups and cleanings<\/a>. Hopefully, you’ll see that there’s nothing to fear, and you’ll be ready to make an appointment and stick to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

It Starts With a Conversation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before anything touches your teeth, we talk. We’ll go over any changes since your last visit, discuss concerns you have, and talk about anything that’s bothering you. Doing this helps my team know what to pay closer attention to during the rest of your appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next Comes the Exam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a new patient, an exam can establish a baseline. I’ll check your gums, look for any early warning signs of dental problems, and look at your overall oral health before letting my hygienist start their work. Sometimes I’ll catch something at this stage that will require work before the actual cleaning, but most of the time, it’s the very next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Cleaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cleanings are broken down into several phases to make sure your teeth and gums are clean and healthy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n