Still glad I went pro instead of trying to DIY before braces.
I get why people go pro, but honestly, I did a super thorough DIY clean before my consult and my ortho said it was fine. Maybe I just lucked out, but I didn’t notice a huge difference after the “real” cleaning. Anyone else feel like the pro clean is hyped up a bit?
Honestly, I kinda felt the same way. I did a deep clean at home before my appointment—flossed like crazy, used the fancy mouthwash, the whole deal. When I finally got the pro cleaning, it didn’t feel that different except for maybe a bit more scraping? Not saying it’s pointless, but for me, it just wasn’t the game-changer people hype it up to be. Maybe if you’ve got buildup or stains it matters more, but my teeth looked and felt about the same.
I get what you mean. Honestly, I’ve always kept up with brushing and flossing, but before braces, my dentist still insisted on a professional cleaning. Didn’t feel wildly different either—just a bit more scraping like you said. But I did have some spots the hygienist pointed out that I’d missed even with my “deep clean.” Maybe it’s more about catching what we don’t notice? For me, it was more peace of mind than anything else.
That’s kinda where I landed too—like, I brush and floss religiously (maybe even obsessively?) but my dentist still wasn’t having it. Had to shell out for a professional cleaning before the braces went on. Honestly, it felt like a fancier version of what I do at home, except they have way cooler tools and zero mercy for tartar. I kept thinking, is this really worth the extra cash? But then, yeah, the hygienist found a couple spots I didn’t even know existed. Makes me wonder if we’re all just missing stuff no matter how careful we are.
Did your insurance cover the cleaning, or was it out of pocket? Mine only covered part, so I was side-eyeing that bill pretty hard. I get the peace of mind thing, but sometimes I wonder if it’s mostly about dentists covering their bases before locking your teeth up in brackets. Anyone else feel like it’s a bit of a money grab... or am I just being cheap?
Yeah, I totally get you on the “is this worth it?” feeling. I brush like my life depends on it, but that cleaning before braces still felt like a rite of passage (and a wallet workout). Insurance only covered a tiny bit for me too—barely enough for a tube of fancy toothpaste. But honestly, when they pulled out that scary hook thing and found stuff I didn’t even know existed, I kinda got it. Guess there’s only so much our regular toothbrushes can do, no matter how many TikTok hacks we try. Still feels a little like a dental shakedown sometimes though...