Professional teeth cleaning removes stubborn plaque and tartar that daily brushing and flossing can't eliminate, protecting you from cavities and gum disease. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we make dental hygiene appointments comfortable and stress-free through comprehensive sedation options—from gentle relaxation to complete sleep—so you can maintain optimal oral health without fear or anxiety.
Even with excellent home care, everyone develops some plaque and tartar buildup that regular brushing and flossing cannot remove. Think of professional cleaning as a deep reset for your mouth—it's like the difference between vacuuming your carpet and having it professionally steam cleaned. Both are necessary, but professional cleaning reaches what you simply can't achieve at home.
Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Within 24-48 hours, unremoved plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), a cement-like deposit that bonds to tooth enamel. Once tartar forms, only professional instruments can remove it. Left undisturbed, tartar causes gum inflammation (gingivitis), bone loss (periodontitis), cavities, bad breath, and eventual tooth loss.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends professional cleanings every six months for most patients. Those with gum disease, diabetes, smoking habits, or high cavity risk may need cleanings every three to four months to maintain healthy gums and prevent disease progression.
For patients who avoid dental appointments due to anxiety, sensitive teeth, or past negative experiences, our sedation-supported cleanings remove those barriers. You can finally receive the thorough hygiene care you need in complete comfort.
At our Ottawa dental clinic, we understand that dental hygiene appointments can trigger significant anxiety—whether from previous painful experiences, sensitive teeth, gagging reflexes, or general dental fear. We make comfort our absolute priority through evidence-based sedation dentistry options tailored to your needs.
Mild relaxation for patients with minimal anxiety or sensitive teeth. You stay fully awake, breathe normally, and effects wear off within minutes. Perfect for routine cleanings.
Learn more about nitrous oxide →Medication taken before your appointment creates drowsiness and significantly reduces anxiety. Ideal for moderate dental fear, strong gag reflex, or patients who haven't had cleanings in years due to avoidance. You'll remember little of the procedure.
Explore oral sedation →Deeper sedation for high anxiety, severe dental phobia, or extensive deep cleanings requiring longer appointments. Continuous monitoring throughout with most patients having no memory of the appointment.
Discover IV sedation →Complete sleep with zero awareness, administered by board-certified medical anesthesiologists (Dr. Hesham Talab, MD MSc PhD FRCPC FASE and Dr. Asad Mirghassemi, MD MSc FRCPC). Best for extreme dental phobia, special needs patients, or those requiring extensive periodontal therapy. Hospital-grade safety right in our clinic.
Learn about general anesthesia →With appropriate sedation, we can complete your full mouth cleaning, scaling, polishing, fluoride treatment, and exam in one comfortable appointment. For patients needing deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), sedation allows us to treat your entire mouth in a single visit instead of requiring four separate appointments.
Questions? We're here to help.
We provide several types of professional cleanings based on your gum health and individual requirements.
Routine maintenance for healthy gums with minimal tartar buildup. Recommended every six months for most patients. Removes plaque and tartar above the gum line, polishes teeth, and applies fluoride (45-60 minutes).
Therapeutic treatment for gum disease involving tartar removal below the gum line and root smoothing to allow gum reattachment. Typically requires local anesthesia; often completed in one visit under sedation or divided into quadrant appointments (60-120 minutes per visit).
Ongoing supportive care every 3-4 months for patients who've completed gum disease treatment. More thorough than standard cleaning to prevent disease recurrence.
Initial heavy tartar removal for patients who haven't had professional cleaning in years. Allows for proper examination and assessment of underlying gum condition. Often followed by additional treatment based on findings.
Each cleaning type can be performed with your choice of sedation for maximum comfort. Many patients who've avoided dental care for years due to fear find that sedation-supported cleanings finally allow them to receive the care they need.
Your hygienist—a licensed dental professional with specialized training in oral health and disease prevention—performs your professional cleaning with meticulous attention to detail and patient comfort.
Your appointment begins with your chosen sedation option if desired. Once you're comfortable and relaxed (or peacefully asleep for general anesthesia), we begin. First, the hygienist carefully examines your teeth and gums, noting areas of concern, tartar buildup, gum inflammation, or bleeding. This initial assessment guides the cleaning approach.
Using specialized hand instruments (scalers and curettes) and ultrasonic devices, the hygienist systematically removes all plaque and tartar deposits from tooth surfaces, between teeth, and along the gum line. Ultrasonic scalers use vibration and water to break up heavy tartar quickly. Hand instruments reach into tight spaces and refine areas the ultrasonic tool can't fully access.
For deep cleanings, the hygienist works below the gum line, removing tartar and bacteria from root surfaces and smoothing rough spots where bacteria accumulate. Local anesthetic ensures you feel no discomfort during this more intensive process.
After all tartar is removed, teeth are polished with a gritty paste using a rotating rubber cup. This removes surface stains from coffee, tea, or food, and creates a smooth surface that resists new plaque formation. Thorough flossing between all teeth follows. Finally, professional fluoride treatment strengthens tooth enamel and provides additional cavity protection for several months.
Time Required: Standard cleaning takes 45-60 minutes. Deep cleaning takes 60-120 minutes depending on extent of disease.
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Research consistently shows that regular professional cleanings deliver significant oral and systemic health benefits beyond what home care alone can achieve.
Removes bacteria and tartar that cause tooth decay; reduces cavity risk by up to 60%
Eliminates inflammation-causing tartar; prevents progression to bone loss and tooth loss
Removes bacteria and deposits causing chronic bad breath (halitosis)
Polishing restores natural tooth color diminished by coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco
Hygienists identify cavities, gum disease, oral cancer signs, and other concerns during examination
Reduces bacteria linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications, and respiratory infections
Prevention costs far less than treating advanced gum disease or replacing lost teeth
Clean, healthy teeth and fresh breath enhance self-esteem and social comfort
Studies show patients who maintain regular six-month cleanings retain significantly more natural teeth throughout their lifetime compared to those who only seek care for problems. The American Dental Association reports that regular cleanings reduce tooth loss by 40%.
For appointments without sedation or with nitrous oxide only, you'll leave immediately with a clean, refreshed smile. Your teeth may feel exceptionally smooth and look noticeably brighter.
With oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, plan for 30-60 minutes recovery time before discharge. You'll need someone to drive you home.
Some patients experience mild gum sensitivity or tenderness for 1-2 days after cleaning, especially if significant tartar was removed or you haven't had professional cleaning recently. This is normal and indicates healing, healthier tissue. Over-the-counter pain relievers help if needed.
Your teeth may feel slightly sensitive to hot or cold for a day or two. This quickly resolves as gums firm up and cover previously tartar-covered areas. Using sensitivity toothpaste helps if discomfort persists.
With proper home care and regular professional cleanings, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
Prophylaxis
$800-1,600 full mouth
Every 3-4 months
Most dental insurance plans cover preventive cleanings at 80-100% twice per year. Deep cleaning is typically covered at 50-80% when medically necessary for gum disease treatment. Sedation fees vary by type and may be covered for patients with documented dental anxiety or special needs. We provide direct billing to major insurers and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible patients.
Regular cleanings represent one of the most cost-effective investments in oral health. Preventing gum disease through routine maintenance costs far less than treating advanced periodontitis ($5,000-10,000 for surgery and bone grafting) or replacing lost teeth with implants ($3,000-6,000 per tooth).
Our patients love their dental hygiene experience.
Read More Reviews on GoogleDentist Referrals Welcome: We collaborate with referring dentists throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for dental sedation cases.
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