DENTAL CLEANINGS

TYPES OF DENTAL CLEANINGS

While general teeth cleanings are necessary for everyone, there are different types of dental cleaning, depending on the health of your gums. Talk to your dentist about the various levels of gum disease and what cleaning is necessary for your current condition.

There is more than one type of dental procedure that may be casually referred to as a cleaning. For example, there is a regular prophylaxis cleaning, Gingivitis therapy cleaning, Full mouth debridement cleaning (FMD), and there is Periodontal therapy or Scaling and Root Planing what is referred to a deep cleaning, then follow Periodontal Maintenance. It’s important to understand that there is a big difference between these procedures and implications that each of these procedures have when it comes to your oral health.

TYPE I TEETH CLEANING: NO GUM DISEASE
Regular Cleaning or Prophylaxis

A regular cleaning, which is called prophylaxis by dental professionals, is what most people think of when they think of going to the dentist for a checkup. Prophylaxis involves removing plaque, calculus and stains from teeth. (Plaque is a sticky substance that builds up on teeth as a byproduct of bacteria feasting on the food you eat. Calculus, also known as tartar, occurs when plaque and minerals in your mouth harden.) A dental hygienist or a dentist uses a specialized cleaning device, called an ultrasonic scaler, to remove plaque and calculus. This cleaning occurs only on the visible part of the tooth, known as a the crown.Regular cleaning is only recommended for patients who have generally good oral health and do not suffer from periodontal disease.

TYPE II DENTAL CLEANING: GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis Therapy

Gingivitis therapy provides additional cleaning services to eliminate the built up plaque on the teeth as well as plaque below the gum line. This therapy is meant for those who have gingivitis, a reversible type of periodontal disease. Around 80% of people in the U.S. have Type I Gum disease, also known as Gingivitis. Your gums bleed when you floss and may also show some redness surrounding your teeth. If you have gingivitis, then you will need to floss and brush more frequently. Ask your dentist about other tools that may help in reducing gingivitis

Full Mouth Debridement

This cleaning consists of a generalized removal of calculus and plaque. It is meant for those who suffer from gingivitis or periodontal disease. A gross debridement is typically performed to permit better visibility and access for a diagnosis and subsequent probing. This allows for gum inflammation to settle before additional treatment is provided. Once the gross debridement is complete, a scale and polish is performed for patients who have periodontal disease or moderate to severe gingivitis.

TYPE III DENTAL CLEANING: EARLY PERIODONTITIS
Scaling & Root Planing or Deep Cleanings

Root planing is a procedure that involves removing tartar, bacteria, toxic deposits from the root of a tooth, all the way down to where gum and bone meet. While it is sometimes casually referred to as a “deep cleaning”, you should know that this treatment is quite different from prophylaxis. This procedure is required as a treatment for periodontal disease or periodontitis.

Many people can have periodontal disease and not even know it. Symptoms of the disease include bleeding gums, bad breath, teeth that look longer due to recessed gums (receding gums are irreversible and cannot be fixed, not even by surgery), and swollen or red gums. However, many people do not notice any symptoms at all. That’s why it may come as a surprise when your dentist recommends scaling and root planing instead of a regular cleaning. It’s important to understand that this procedure is vital to getting periodontal disease under control and avoid future tooth loss.

If your gums are bleeding and your dentist finds deep pockets between your gums and teeth, then you most likely have early periodontitis, Type II of gum disease. Your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning to remove tartar buildup that is no longer removable from regular checkups. Not all of your teeth may need a deep cleaning, but it’s important to treat the affected areas as soon as possible.

TYPE IV, V, & VI DENTAL CLEANING: MODERATE TO SEVERE PERIODONTITIS

At these stages of gum disease, your gums will no longer respond to treatment, your dentist will require surgery at this point. Your dentist will recommend multiple deep dental cleanings and root planing. For more advanced gum disease, you may need to speak with a periodontist (gum specialist) to determine the possibility of surgery to remove the affected areas (teeth and possible gums).
Periodontal Maintenance

Once you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease and have undergone scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, periodontal maintenance is what you can think of as taking the place of prophylaxis in your dental care routine. Rather than just addressing the just crowns of your teeth as in prophylaxis, periodontal maintenance also cares for your tooth roots, gums and bone. In other words, think of it as cleaning and maintenance for the tissues affected by your periodontal disease. The frequency of your periodontal maintenance appointments depends on your individual oral health condition and will be determined by your dentist.

AFTER YOUR TEETH CLEANING

Whether you have gum disease or not, your oral hygiene at home will ultimately determine your treatment plan (and its cost).Outside of your regular checkups, make sure that you:
1-Brush and floss your teeth and gums at least twice per day.
2-Eat a healthy balanced diet.
3-Make an appointment for every six months for regular checkups, and every three months if you have gum disease