Dental cleaning, also known as teeth cleaning or prophylaxis, is a routine dental procedure that involves removing plaque and tartar from teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth, and if not removed, can harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
During a dental cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will use special tools to remove plaque and tartar from teeth and along the gumline.