Professional teeth cleaning is a dental procedure in which a dentist removes soft and hard dental deposits, that is, pigmented plaque and tartar in hard-to-reach areas that a regular toothbrush couldn’t handle. But the service includes more than removing plaque: the procedure ends with enamel polishing. During your visit to Med-Deo, the dentist can also recommend home hygiene products suited to you, to better prevent stubborn deposits from forming.

Even good daily brushing at home doesn’t reach every part of the tooth surface. For example, near the gums, between the teeth, and on the tongue side. That’s why a checkup every six months matters. Professional cleaning at the clinic complements your home routine rather than replacing it.

When to Get Your Teeth Cleaned

A hygienic cleaning may be needed if you’ve started noticing certain signs. So it’s worth booking a dental checkup when:

There’s visible plaque near the gums – a regular toothbrush won’t remove stubborn plaque, so without professional removal it can eventually turn into tartar and lead to gum inflammation.
There’s a dark rim from coffee or cigarettes – it clings to the so-called pellicle (a thin film on the enamel), which is why regular toothpaste can’t “get” it either. By the way, pigmented plaque from coffee, tea, or tobacco is something Air Flow cleaning removes well.
Your gums bleed when you brush – this usually means dental deposits are already irritating them, and gingivitis may even be starting. Professional hygiene can help here, if the dentist decides it’s appropriate.
You have bad breath – this is so-called halitosis, caused by bacterial biofilm on the surface and plaque between the teeth. If the odor is persistent, home hygiene alone won’t fix it.
Your teeth feel rough – you can feel it with your tongue, and it most likely means the plaque has already hardened into tartar. A regular toothbrush won’t remove it, and in the dentist’s office ultrasonic cleaning is best suited to the job.
You wear braces or have implants – dental deposits often build up around such appliances because home cleaning isn’t quite thorough enough. In this case, dentists recommend professional hygiene more often.
You’re preparing for whitening or prosthetics – professional cleaning is needed to prepare the teeth, especially if it’s been a while since the last one. Whitening gives a more even result on clean enamel, and when veneers or other restorations are placed, they fit better.

IMPORTANT: Whether you need professional cleaning is ultimately decided by the dentist during an exam! They assess the amount of plaque, signs of gum inflammation, and other problems.

Types of Teeth Cleaning at “Med-Deo”

Professional hygiene at the clinic can differ in scope and methods. Plaque is soft, while dental deposits in the form of so-called tartar are harder, so they call for different cleaning methods. For example, ultrasonic cleaning mainly deals with hard, stubborn deposits, while a method like Air Flow targets soft plaque and staining. They aren’t interchangeable, though. They can be combined and complement each other. At Med-Deo, the dentist usually chooses one method or a combination of several, depending on the condition of your enamel and gums. The price of teeth cleaning also depends on the type of hygiene chosen.

Below, we look at the most common types of professional teeth cleaning in more detail.

Ultrasonic Cleaning (Scaler)

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning works like this: the tip of the ultrasonic scaler vibrates at a high frequency and essentially breaks up hard tartar, including tartar that sits below the gumline. Ultrasound is effective on both supragingival and subgingival deposits. It doesn’t grind down healthy enamel, meaning it doesn’t wear away the tooth surface, but acts only on hard deposits. Soft plaque, by contrast, is better removed by other cleaning methods. That’s why professional ultrasonic cleaning is the basic step in most cases where hard deposits need to be removed. Note also that this tartar removal step may involve anesthesia if the patient has sensitive teeth.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning

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After ultrasound, if tiny remnants of deposits remain in hard-to-reach spots, the dentist finishes the job with a hand curette (a thin instrument with a curved edge).

Air Flow Cleaning

Professional Air Flow cleaning is an air-abrasive treatment that uses a jet of water, air, and fine powder. It removes soft plaque well and eliminates enamel discoloration (pigment from coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco). In addition, Air Flow doesn’t heat the enamel and is almost always well tolerated by patients with increased sensitivity. At the same time, this type of cleaning doesn’t always remove tartar and other hard dental deposits. For those, it’s better to go through the ultrasonic step first, as mentioned above.

VIP Cleaning with KaVo PROPHYpearls Powder

This professional hygienic cleaning is also an air-abrasive method. But it uses the PROPHYflex 3 unit and KaVo PROPHYpearls powder, which has rounded, calcium carbonate-based particles that are softer than regular baking soda powder. They have no “sharp edges,” so this technology is considered very gentle for plaque removal.

VIP cleaning with KaVo PROPHYpearls powder is especially valuable for thin enamel, exposed tooth necks, and, accordingly, increased tooth sensitivity. The price of teeth cleaning with KaVo PROPHYpearls powder at Med-Deo is listed as a separate item in the price list.

Comprehensive Cleaning: Scaler + Air Flow + Polishing

Comprehensive professional teeth cleaning is one of the best options, especially if dental deposits have been there for a long time. First, the ultrasonic scaler removes hard tartar, and then Air Flow takes care of pigment and soft plaque. Finally, if needed, the enamel is polished. Polishing smooths the surface, so plaque may take longer to build up again.

This comprehensive approach is recommended for most patients, on a regular schedule of once every six months. The price of teeth cleaning with the full protocol is made up of the combination of scaler + Air Flow + polishing at Med-Deo. For any promotional offers, call us when you book.

How Teeth Cleaning Works: Step by Step

Hygienic teeth cleaning takes about an hour and consists of five steps. Below, we cover each stage of this dental procedure in more detail.

Examination and Treatment Plan

At this initial stage, before the hygienic cleaning, the dentist assesses the condition of your enamel and gums. They look at where dental deposits have built up, check for sensitivity, and determine whether tartar removal will be needed, that is, removal of hard deposits specifically. If the gums are also inflamed, professional cleaning may be the first stage of treating them. But that’s for the dentist to decide.

Tartar Removal

The tartar removal stage is performed with an ultrasonic scaler to remove deposits that have hardened considerably. Such dental deposits usually build up below the gumline, though they can also be above it. As they harden, they can cause problems such as bleeding gums or bad breath.

During tartar removal, the patient may occasionally feel discomfort, especially when there are a lot of stubborn deposits and the teeth are quite sensitive. In that case, the dentist administers anesthesia if needed. It’s a separate item in the clinic’s price list, namely injectable anesthesia.

Removal of Soft Plaque and Pigment

After the tartar is removed, the dentist begins cleaning off soft deposits. Plaque and staining from coffee, tea, or tobacco are usually removed with Air Flow at this stage. This air-abrasive cleaning, which uses a stream of water, air, and powder, removes the remaining soft plaque and pigmented stains. It’s gentle yet effective. For extra comfort, the patient may be fitted with an Optra Gate isolation device. It’s a soft, elastic, pad-like retractor that holds the lips and cheeks away from the teeth during the procedure. It gives the dentist a better view of all the teeth and makes it a little easier for the patient to keep their mouth open. This is also a separate item in the Med-Deo price list.

Polishing

Polishing is done with special brushes and polishing paste. They help make the tooth surface smooth, which matters for the long-term health of your teeth. Bacterial biofilm (dental plaque) attaches more slowly to smooth enamel. As a result, the effects of professional hygiene can last longer, and the risk of cavities or gum inflammation is lower still. Overall, polishing is the final stage of professional teeth cleaning.

Fluoride Treatment and Remineralization

This stage isn’t always mandatory. It’s done when needed, as the dentist determines individually. At the end of the cleaning, after polishing, the dentist may apply fluoride. A fluoride-containing compound is applied to the teeth to help reduce sensitivity after the procedure and strengthen the enamel. At Med-Deo, fluoride treatment is a separate service.

Occasionally, and again only when needed, the dentist may recommend enamel remineralization. This procedure, in turn, saturates the enamel not only with fluoride but also with other minerals, namely calcium and phosphates. It’s needed when the enamel has lost some of these minerals and the so-called process of demineralization (weakening and brittleness) has begun.

Teeth Cleaning with Braces and Implants

If you wear braces, you’ll need professional cleaning more often. Plaque builds up faster around the brackets, and a regular toothbrush at home can’t reach it there. And if hygiene with braces isn’t sufficient, the risk of enamel demineralization and cavities rises. In this case, Air Flow cleaning works well with orthodontic appliances. The recommended interval for professional cleaning is once every 3-4 months, or as your dentist advises.

As for implants or crowns, professional removal of dental deposits by a dentist is also important when you have them. The main thing here is not to damage the material of the restoration itself. For that, the dentist may choose a gentler powder and, in some cases, even do the work under a microscope. The recommended interval for professional cleaning in this case is roughly once every 3-6 months.

How Much Does Teeth Cleaning Cost in Kyiv

Many factors affect the cost of teeth cleaning at Med-Deo in Kyiv. In general, they include:

How much plaque and how many deposits there are.
Whether tartar is already present.
How many jaws need treatment – one or both.
Which professional cleaning method is chosen – ultrasound, Air Flow, PROPHYpearls, or a combination, i.e., comprehensive teeth cleaning.
Whether Optra Gate isolation, anesthesia, or other procedures are needed in addition.

The dentist names the final price after an exam. At Med-Deo, the cost currently varies by type of cleaning, but there are also promotional options. For example, the standard professional cleaning includes scaler + Air Flow + polishing. In more detail, it consists of a consultation with hygiene recommendations, removal of soft plaque and tartar from both jaws, cleaning of the tooth surface with the Air Flow system, and polishing and smoothing of the enamel.

When You Shouldn’t Get Your Teeth Cleaned

Professional cleaning does have contraindications in some cases. It isn’t recommended, or its advisability is discussed with the dentist, when there are:

Acute inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
Herpetic lesions and ulcerative stomatitis in the active phase.
The first weeks after surgery.
An acute infectious disease with fever.
Pronounced gum inflammation – when cleaning is inappropriate in the dentist’s opinion.
An allergy to cleaning agents or other components planned for use.

Ultrasonic cleaning has its own separate contraindications. In particular, one of them can be a pacemaker. In that case, the possibility of ultrasonic cleaning should be discussed with a cardiologist. But this is definitely no reason to give up professional hygiene altogether. The dentist will simply determine the option that’s safe for you personally.

What to Do After Teeth Cleaning

After the professional procedure, home hygiene remains essential. It should be regular, as this helps the result last longer. So, the recommendations are as follows:

For the first 24 hours, limit coffee, tea, red wine, beets, berries, and other staining foods.
Refrain from smoking for at least a day.
Don’t use whitening toothpastes right after the procedure.
For daily brushing, choose a soft toothbrush and add floss, an irrigator, or interdental brushes (this way, plaque most likely won’t come back for a long time).

Also note that after professional removal of dental deposits, temporary tooth sensitivity and slight gum bleeding are possible. But this should truly be short-lived, lasting from the first few hours up to a few days at most. If it doesn’t go away within a few days after the dental procedure, or continues beyond that, you need to see your dentist again.

For more tips and recommendations, visit our blog on the Med-Deo website.

Why Choose “Med-Deo” for Teeth Cleaning

Of course, Med-Deo offers professional teeth cleaning by a dentist. But the network has many other strengths that make patients choose it today. Med-Deo has been operating for more than 30 years and has 4 clinics in convenient locations across Kyiv. They are:

Holosiivska/Demiivska metro station – 130 Lobanovskoho Ave.
Akademmistechko metro station – 78A Irpinska St.
Heroiv Dnipra metro station – 32A Heroiv Dnipra St.
Teatralna metro station – 9B Yevhena Chykalenka St.

Med-Deo also has more than 50 doctors of various specialties, has provided 132,000 professional hygiene services, and works with 39 insurance companies. If you are treated at the clinic, the initial consultation is free, including a discussion of the scope of your hygienic cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is professional teeth cleaning painful?

No, professional teeth cleaning doesn’t hurt. Slight discomfort and sensitivity are possible, especially when a large amount of tartar is being removed. But overall, the procedure is relatively comfortable in almost all cases. If it’s really needed, the dentist can use anesthesia.

2. How long does professional teeth cleaning take?

Professional teeth cleaning doesn’t take long, approximately up to 1 hour. If there aren’t many deposits, the procedure can be even shorter, about 30 minutes.

3. How often should you get a professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is recommended once every six months. If a person wears braces, has implants, or, for example, smokes, it’s better to come every 3-4 months. It’s best to let your dentist determine the exact interval at an exam.

4. Can you get a professional teeth cleaning with braces?

Yes, you can, and you should. Plaque usually builds up faster around the brackets, and a regular toothbrush at home won’t remove it.

5. Does professional teeth cleaning damage enamel?

No, professional teeth cleaning doesn’t damage enamel. The dentist selects the cleaning method individually, taking into account both the amount of plaque and the condition of the enamel. Ultrasound for tartar doesn’t grind down healthy enamel; it only removes the deposits. With Air Flow, plaque is removed without heating the tissue.

Book a professional oral hygiene session at Med-Deo, and the dentist will choose a method suited to the condition of your teeth and gums. The initial consultation is free if you undergo treatment, and you can book by phone at (044) 394 90 94 or on the website.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.

The author of this article is Andrii Kratik, a dental implantologist, oral surgeon, general dentist, and prosthodontist.