Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis) are usually performed by the Registered Dental Hygienists. Your cleaning appointment will include a dental exam and the following:
- Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
- Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
- Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.
Reasons for prophylaxis/teeth cleaning
Prophylaxis is an excellent procedure to help keep the oral cavity in good health and also halt the progression of gum disease.
Here are some of the benefits of prophylaxis:
- Tartar removal – Tartar (calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can cause serious periodontal problems if left untreated. Even using the best brushing and flossing homecare techniques, it can be impossible to remove debris, bacteria and deposits from gum pockets. The experienced eye of a dentist using specialized dental equipment is needed in order to spot and treat problems such as tartar and plaque buildup.
- Aesthetics – It’s hard to feel confident about a smile marred by yellowing, stained teeth. Prophylaxis can rid the teeth of unsightly stains and return the smile to its former glory.
- Fresher breath – Periodontal disease is often signified by persistent bad breath. Bad breath is generally caused by a combination of rotting food particles below the gum line, possible tissue inflammation stemming from gum infection, and periodontal problems. The removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria noticeably improves breath and alleviates irritation.
- Identification of health issues – Many oral health problems can be identified by the dentist. Since prophylaxis involves a thorough examination of the entire oral cavity, the dentist is able to screen for oral cancer, evaluate the risk of periodontitis and often spot signs of medical problems like diabetes or chronic infection. Recommendations can also be provided for altering the home care regimen.
What does prophylaxis treatment involve?
Prophylaxis is performed in the course of a regular dental cleaning visit. If the condition is worse a deeper cleaning over several visits may be indicated to remove all the subgingival debrie present.
Prophylaxis is generally performed in several stages:
- Supragingival cleaning – The dentist will thoroughly clean the area above the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and calculus.
- Subgingival cleaning – This is the most important step for patients with periodontal disease because the dentist is able to remove calculus from the gum pockets and beneath the gum line.
- Root planing – This is the smoothing of the tooth root to eliminate any remaining bacteria. These bacteria are extremely dangerous to periodontitis sufferers, so eliminating them is one of the top priorities.
- Medication – Following scaling and root planing, an antibiotic or antimicrobial pelets can be placed in the gum pockets to reduce inflammation and combat chronic bacterial infection. These antibiotic products promote fast and healthy healing in the pockets and help ease discomfort.
- X-ray and examination – Routine X-rays can be extremely revealing when it comes to periodontal disease and cavities. X-rays show the extent of bone and gum recession, and also identify areas which may need attention.
Regular dental cleanings are recommended as a preventative measure. The recall schedule is based on the level of disease and inflammation present. Regular dental cleanings are one of the tools the dentist can use to effectively halt the destructive progress of periodontal disease.
If you have questions or concerns about your dental cleanings or periodontal disease, please ask your Dr. Bleeker.
