Prevent & maintain · Eagle River, AK
From your first hello to your final polish, explore preventive dental care and professional cleanings at Legacy Dental Arts in Eagle River.
The cleaning experience
Take a look at what a professional cleaning visit can involve.
Your visit / 01
Start with your questions, recent changes in your health, and anything that would help you feel more comfortable. The team can explain what is planned before care begins.
Good to knowTell the team about sensitive areas or concerns, and ask how to signal for a pause.
Your visit / 02
The dental team checks your teeth and gums and reviews your history. Gum measurements and any appropriate examination or imaging help guide the type of care discussed with you.
Good to knowThis guide is a possible sequence, not a promise that every visit includes the same procedures.
Your visit / 03
Professional instruments remove plaque and hardened tartar from the areas being treated. The approach depends on your findings; treatment below the gums may require a different care plan.
Good to knowDo not try to scrape tartar off your teeth at home. Ask the dental team about professional removal.
Your visit / 04
When appropriate, polishing can help remove some surface stains. Your hygienist can discuss other preventive steps and demonstrate techniques suited to your teeth and gums.
Good to knowPolishing is not whitening treatment, and it is not necessary in the same way at every appointment.
Your visit / 05
Review the findings, ask questions, and discuss home care and follow-up. The team will explain if another type of treatment is needed and help you understand the next conversation.
Good to knowAsk when to return and why that interval fits your oral health needs.
01 / 05
An educational sequence, not a fixed checklist. Actual care depends on your oral health and the team’s evaluation.
A closer look
Explore how plaque and tartar can build up and how professional cleaning helps remove them.
Drag the divider. Keyboard: arrow keys, Home or End.
A soft film
Plaque is a soft bacterial biofilm that collects on tooth surfaces. Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth help disrupt it; deposits can build up again after a professional cleaning.
Hardened buildup
Plaque can harden into tartar. These deposits generally require professional removal. Do not try to scrape them off at home.
Where teeth meet gums
Plaque near the gumline can contribute to gum inflammation. Bleeding or changes in your gums are reasons to ask the dental team for an evaluation.
The same tooth surface
Removing deposits helps support oral hygiene. This illustration changes deposits only—not tooth shade or gum tissue. It does not show instant healing, whitening, or a guaranteed treatment result.
Same enamel shade. Same gum tissue. Only the illustrative deposits change.
Understand your care
The type of cleaning or periodontal care depends on your individual oral health needs.
Preventive cleaning removes plaque and tartar and supports ongoing oral hygiene. An assessment helps establish whether routine care is appropriate or whether gum disease needs a different approach.
Keep in mindSelecting this card does not determine the type of cleaning you need.
Explore everyday care
Gum-disease care may include scaling and root planing to clean affected tooth and root surfaces below the gumline. The dentist determines the treatment plan and discusses comfort, visits, and follow-up.
Keep in mindRoutine cleaning and treatment for periodontitis are not interchangeable.
Learn about periodontal careAfter periodontal treatment, ongoing professional care helps monitor gum health and manage deposits that return. The visit plan and intervals are tailored to the patient's condition and treatment history.
Keep in mindMaintenance supports long-term management; it does not mean gum disease can never recur.
Explore gum-health follow-upThese are educational descriptions. A dental evaluation determines appropriate care; choosing a topic does not identify a treatment you need.
Between visits
Good daily care and regular professional visits can help support a healthier smile.
Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush. Use gentle movements along the teeth and gumline rather than forceful scrubbing.
A useful next stepAsk your hygienist to demonstrate a technique that works for your mouth.
Clean between teeth daily, where a toothbrush cannot reach well. Floss, an interdental brush, or another suitable tool can help; the best fit depends on your teeth and dexterity.
A useful next stepAsk which size and type of tool is appropriate, and how to use it gently.
Regular visits give the team a chance to review your teeth, gums, and changing needs. The interval for examination, cleaning, or maintenance should reflect your individual oral health.
A useful next stepA routine insurance benefit schedule is not the same as a clinical recommendation.
A balanced diet that limits sugary drinks and snacks supports oral health. Avoiding tobacco also matters for your gums; ask the team for guidance on habits that concern you.
A useful next stepThink about how often you sip or snack on sugary items during the day.
General education, not a personalized care plan. Ask the team about the routine and tools appropriate for you.
Questions about preventive care
Answers to common questions about cleanings and preventive care.
General educational answers for practice review—not quotations or personal advice from Cari.
Comfort varies with sensitivity, buildup, and gum health. Tell the team what you are feeling and ask for a pause when needed. They can explain the steps and discuss appropriate comfort options; no treatment can be promised to feel the same for everyone.
The time depends on the assessment, the type of cleaning, and your individual needs. Ask the office what time to allow for your scheduled visit. Periodontal treatment may involve a different appointment plan.
Call the team and explain that you would like to return to care. An examination and conversation can establish a starting point. You do not need to choose a cleaning type before your oral health has been assessed.
Tell your dentist or hygienist. Bleeding can be a sign of gum inflammation, but it does not by itself tell you what treatment is needed. An assessment can identify the cause and guide care; persistent bleeding should not simply be ignored.
Professional cleaning and appropriate polishing can remove some surface stains. They may not change discoloration within the tooth or the color of existing restorations. Ask the team what is causing the discoloration and which options may be suitable.
A cleaning focuses on deposits and oral hygiene, and polishing may address surface stains. Whitening is a separate cosmetic treatment that uses whitening agents to lighten eligible natural tooth color. It does not replace cleaning or gum-disease care.
Your dentist or hygienist recommends an interval based on your oral health, risk factors, and treatment history. Some people need more frequent care than others. Ask what schedule is appropriate for you rather than assuming one interval fits everyone.
The team will explain the findings and recommended options. Treatment may include scaling and root planing or referral to the practice’s periodontal team, followed by reassessment and ongoing care. An ordinary cleaning is not a substitute for treatment when periodontitis is present.
Let’s keep your smile healthy
Call us or request a visit — we’re here to help you maintain a healthy smile.
