Should getting your teeth cleaned be an unpleasant experience?

Recently I purchased health and dental insurance and began going to the dentist for regular visits for the first time in thirty years. I just got back from the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned was unpleasant. The dental hygenist didn't make any effort to explain what she was doing, didn't say anything to me at all except "Turn this way, please." She inserted this morotized dental pick into my mouth (WTF? We didn't have anything like that when I was kid). I kept expecting her to hit a nerve and I tensed up and got ready to slap it out of her hand. After a while she switched to the manual pick and attacked my mouth like she was personally angry, either at me or at the dental plaque, I wasn't sure which. Afterwards there was substantial gum bleeding and my whole mouth felt sore.

Should getting your teeth cleaned be an unpleasant experience?
Some hygienists are more aggressive than others, that's for sure...





The 'motorized pick' is called a Cavitron, or ultrasonic scaler... it's more effective (and faster) than doing the 'scraping' manually....





Her 'bedside' manner needs to improve... patients, like yourself, won't want to be seen by her, so she may lose business for the dentist... and eventually get fired.





You can certainly request a different hygienist the next time you go in for your checkup. If there isn't one available, voice your concerns to the dentist when he does your exam. I'm sure you aren't the only person who feels this way, so maybe the problem will be addressed and she'll have better 'manners'.





If you bleed that much at 6 month checkups, why not go every 3 or 4 months for cleanings until your oral health improves?





Arm %26amp; Hammer is a brand of toothpaste, like Crest and Colgate... it can't hurt.





Best of luck to you!
Reply:ask for a different hygenist next time. no, it shouldnt hurt. many people request a certain hygenist for this reason.
Reply:yes it is unpleasant and the technology has improved...the hygenist is aggressive for sure....but thats here job...and then there is your stress related addivitives...as for the bleeding that is normal too since all that gunk was causing actual gum disease...


to cut back on all this brush after every meal even if just a candy bar...floss...and use arm %26amp; hammer twice or more times a week..this scrub willl really kick the gunk off the teeth that the tooth paste misses....or just go for the gold and arm %26amp; hammer every time...its cheaper, lasts longer, and really gets the job done....then next time its in for the cleaning YOU will pleasantly rewarded....