What is a professional tooth cleaning?

The professional cleaning of teeth (PTC) is an important part of dental prophylaxis - that is, it serves to prevent tooth decay, periodontal disease and other diseases of teeth and gums. Because: In the domestic dental care, we only reach about 60 to 70 percent of the tooth surfaces. In particular, the interdental spaces and hard to reach places far back in the mouth are usually only insufficiently cleared from food debris. The result: Plaque forms - ie dental plaque, which provides bacteria and germs with an ideal breeding ground.

Professional teeth cleaning is an intensive, mechanical cleaning of the tooth surfaces, which can be used to compensate for deficits in daily dental care at home.

How does a professional tooth cleaning work?

Prior to the PTC, the dentist will conduct a thorough pre-check to ensure that nothing speaks against professional teeth cleaning. However, the cleaning itself is rarely performed by the dentist himself. Instead, dental hygienists, prophylaxis assistants or dental assistants take on this task.

In the first step, the dental assistant removes coarse, soft deposits using an ultrasound machine. If the teeth also show hard deposits, special hand instruments - so-called scaler - are required to remove them. Even small brushes and / or dental floss are used in the PTC.

Using a powder blaster, the professional removes brown spots caused by the consumption of coffee, tea or nicotine. The powder blasting unit sprays a mixture of air, water and a special salt, which is not only very effective, but also gentle. Although the tooth surface is easily roughened by this treatment, the subsequent polishing smoothes it off again. The risk of a rapid new formation of coverings is significantly reduced in this way.


In the last step, the dental assistant applies a fluoride-containing varnish, which hardens the surface of the tooth and protects it from external influences for a certain period of time. The entire PTC takes about 30 to 60 minutes depending on the effort.

Why is regular professional teeth cleaning useful?

A professional tooth cleaning is especially useful, because even with very thorough brushing, all coverings can never be removed. There are some areas between the teeth and behind the molars that are difficult or impossible to reach with a regular toothbrush - regardless of whether it's a classic manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. The gingival margin is usually insufficiently cleaned during normal brushing.

If it comes to the settlement of bacteria, they excrete in the course of their metabolism aggressive cell toxins, which can lead to tooth decay, gum inflammation (gingivitis) or at worst to bone loss (periodontitis).

Anyone who regularly has a PTC performed by the dentist thus contributes greatly to the preservation of dental health- and incidentally, the teeth are lightened. However, these benefits only apply if the utmost care is taken in daily dental care in one's own home.

For whom are regular professional teeth cleaning particularly important?

Only have a PTC performed when it is actually needed - for example, to remove tartar, or even if you have an increased risk of tooth decay and / or periodontal disease. In addition, regular PTCs are recommended for the following groups of people:

  • People with sensitive gums
  • People with braces
  • People with dental
  • People with pre-existing diseases of the teeth / gums

Since children often can not clean their teeth thoroughly on their own, a regular PTC may be useful. The same applies to older people, whose dexterity gradually diminishes. In addition, gums recede at an advanced age - so the exposed tooth surface becomes larger. Last but not least, many seniors have underlying diseases that make them more susceptible to diseases of the dental apparatus.

When and how often is a professional tooth cleaning necessary?

Experts recommend having a PTC performed twice a year - approximately every six to twelve months. If the periodontitis is already existing or has just been overcome, a gap of only three to six months between sessions may be useful.

If the dentition is in very good condition and there are no problems, then more time may be allowed between treatments. If you are unsure about how often you should have your teeth professionally cleaned, talk to your dentist.

Does a professional tooth cleaning also have disadvantages?

Critics are of the opinion that the powder blasters used in the PTC can damage the tooth surface. Instead, the surface is only slightly roughened and then thoroughly polished again and thus smoothed. The fluoride varnish also helps the teeth to recover quickly.

For certain groups of people, however, a PTC is associated with certain risks, such as:

  • People who take blood-thinning medications
  • People with pacemakers
  • People with artificial heart valves

Again, be sure to talk in advance with the dentist and possibly also with the treating specialist (cardiologist, etc.)!

How much does a professional tooth cleaning cost?

The costs for a PTC vary from doctor to doctor - also depending on the individual effort and the equipment used. Most dentists ask for a professional teeth cleaning between 50 and 150 euros. The costs are only covered by the health insurance in exceptional cases. Some funds also reward their members for particularly health-conscious behavior (keyword: bonus booklet) and pay the costs in whole or in part. In addition, the cost of PTC is included in some dental insurances. Private funds take over the teeth cleaning more often than statutory health insurance - of course, always depending on the contract.

Implantology: Why should patients with dentures pay particular attention to good oral hygiene?

Anyone who has dental implants, bridges, crowns or other forms of dentures, has to attach great importance to good dental hygiene. Because: Implants are quickly deposited on leftovers - and usually in hard to reach areas between dentures and natural teeth. A regularly performed PTC can thus prevent further damage to the dentition. In addition, regular treatment can significantly increase the life expectancy of implants, crowns and the like.

What applies to people with dentures, also applies to children and adolescents who wear braces. In the course of a PTC, all bows and additional parts are removed in order to reintegrate them after cleaning.

Conclusion: a sensible investment!

Professional teeth cleaning makes a valuable contribution to the health of teeth and gums. It is therefore all the more annoying that the costs are not or only under certain conditions taken over by the health insurance companies. However, as PTC can avoid serious dental problems such as tooth decay and periodontal disease, it is a worthwhile investment in one's own health.