Regular dental cleanings, performed by a registered dental hygienist, are a CRUCIAL part of preventive dental care. By removing plaque and tartar, your oral health is enhanced and your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease are reduced. Your dental hygienist will utilize manual instruments to remove moderate plaque and tartar buildup, or an ultrasonic device to scale away heavier buildup. The cleaning is finished with polishing, a pleasant procedure that cleans the surface of teeth, removes stains, and leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed.
Your dentist will prescribe the type and frequency of cleaning or periodontal therapy that you will need based on your diagnosis. To treat the areas above and below the gum line we offer three basic types of procedures:
Prophy:
Patients diagnosed with a healthy mouth condition received a prophylaxis or healthy mouth cleaning — the kind that most insurance companies cover. This procedure removes plaque on the teeth and at the gum line
Full Mouth Debridement:
Patients diagnosed with gingivitis, the only reversible form of periodontal disease, typically require a full mouth debridement to remove build-up on the teeth so a full assessment can be conducted. Afterward, many patients return to a healthy mouth condition.
Scaling & Root Planing (SRP):
Patients diagnosed with active periodontal disease cannot benefit from a healthy mouth cleaning because they require treatment above and below the gum line.
These patients generally receive SRP, a non-surgical treatment that removes build-up, smooths out exposed root surfaces. SRP often takes several visits to complete and ongoing periodontal maintenance is prescribed at regular intervals afterward.