A good dental practice includes brushing, flossing, and eating a nutritious diet. However, you will also want expert treatment if you want genuinely clean teeth. Regular dental cleanings are critical for maintaining your teeth cavity-free and gleaming. Consult a Brookline general dentist for more.
Did you know that there are several sorts of dental cleanings? Any sort of teeth cleaning will assist you in staying ahead of gum disease and tooth discoloration. However, a cleaning method may be perfect for your dental needs.
Your dentist will conduct one of four types of dental cleanings depending on the quantity of tartar and plaque on your teeth:
Prophylaxis dental cleaning
Prophylaxis is defined as “the prevention of disease.” As a result, prophylactic dental cleanings are used to clean healthy teeth to keep them free of tooth decay and gum disease. Prophylaxis cleanings use a dental scaler or a water stream to remove tartar and plaque from the tooth’s front, back, and sides. Most dental patients just require a prophylaxis cleaning, particularly if they have been practicing good oral hygiene and attending semi-annual dental examinations.
Root planing and scaling cleaning
Root planing and scaling cleanings, also known as deep cleanings, are used to treat periodontitis and gingivitis by cleaning both the gum pockets and the teeth. Deep cleanings for gingivitis are frequently completed in a single dental visit. Periodontitis thorough cleanings, on the other hand, may take many sessions and local anesthetics, depending on the severity. Scaling is the procedure of removing tartar and plaque off the tooth’s surface and from gum pockets under the gum line that arise from gum disease. This not only kills bacteria but also reduces gum discomfort. Root planing is a technique that flattens the dental roots to help reconnect the gums to the teeth and eliminate gum pockets.
Periodontal maintenance cleaning
The dental cleanings that aim to address gum disease as well are called periodontal maintenance cleanings. They remove extra tartar and plaque from the tooth surface and gum pockets, then smooth out the roots if necessary, similar to root planing and scaling. The key difference between periodontal maintenance and other dental cleanings is that they are generally conducted more often. This is because gum disease is progressive and will worsen if not treated adequately.
Gross debridement cleaning
Periodontal maintenance cleanings are similar to dental cleanings used to treat gum disease. Like root planing and scaling, they remove excess tartar and plaque from the tooth surface and gum pockets, then smooth out the roots as needed. The key distinction between periodontal maintenance and other dental cleanings is that they are generally conducted more often. This is because gum disease is progressive and will worsen if not treated adequately.
