In your mouth, thousands of bacteria naturally reside on your teeth’ surface. They also consume the same food items as you consume. The positive side is that you can remove any extra bacteria from your teeth if you floss, brush, and have regular dental cleanings.
It is recommended that patients visit the dentist’s office every six months for an examination and cleaning to prevent the growth of bacterial populations and causing dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Professional dental cleanings will remove the tartar and plaque, and dental exams will help your dentist evaluate the health of your gums and teeth.
Dental Cleaning Treatments
All dental cleanings are not made equal, and understanding the differences between them will aid you in selecting the most effective one. Exploring the options available for cleansing with your dental professional is essential, and knowing what each includes can be beneficial. Visit a dentist in Dunnville for additional information.
Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning
To “prevent disease” is what the word “prophylaxis” means. Thus, prophylactic dental cleanings are used to cleanse healthy teeth and prevent gum disease and tooth decay from harming the teeth.
The tartar and plaque are removed from your teeth’s front, back, and sides during prophylaxis cleaning with a dental scaler or water stream. Most dental patients require an appointment for a prophylaxis clean, particularly when they’ve been going to their annual dental examinations and regular dental hygiene sessions. Consult a dentist to learn more about preventive dentistry.
Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning
Deep cleanings, also called scaling and root planning, are done on the teeth and the gum pockets to treat periodontitis and gingivitis. Deep cleanings for gingivitis are typically completed in one dental visit. However, depending on the severity of the periodontitis, deep cleanings might require multiple appointments and local anesthetics.
Scaling is a procedure to eliminate tartar and plaque off the surface of your teeth and gum pockets below the gum line due to gum disease. It not only removes the bacteria but also reduces irritation to the gums. Flattening the roots of the teeth, known as root planning, assists in the reattachment of gums to teeth and eliminating gum pockets.
Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning
Periodontal cleaning treatments are also designed to treat gum disease. Like root planning and scaling cleaning, they cleanse the surface of the teeth and gum pockets of extra tartar and plaque and, should it be necessary, smooth the root surfaces.
The main difference between regular dental cleaning is that they are performed more often. This is because gum disease progresses and worsens if not adequately treated.
Gross Debridement Cleaning
The most thorough cleaning of teeth, known as gross debridement, is performed to eliminate any plaque or tartar in of teeth. This is typically the case for those struggling to maintain an oral hygiene routine or who have put off going to the dentist for a long time.
During extensive debridement cleaning, tartar is removed using an electric instrument because tartar forms plaque, and large quantities of tartar are tough to eliminate. The teeth are further cleaned with prophylaxis after the excess tartar and plaque have been removed. It is recommended to have a comprehensive dental exam.