Most patients realize that they require dental cleanings twice a year for the maintenance of their oral health and to preserve the appearance of their smile. These types of appointments are routine and typically used to prevent periodontal disease, although some of them are for treating ongoing gum disease.
A dental cleaning involves plaque removal that can accumulate when a patient fails to properly brush and floss their teeth. It also helps those who actually maintain proper oral hygiene, but find some areas of their teeth difficult to reach and clean.
Plaque is a substance that sticks to the surfaces of teeth and creates acids that can eat away at tooth enamel and cause gum tissue to become inflamed. Over time, plaque can cause a chronic infection that we call periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease.
Let’s take a look at the three different types of dental cleanings that may be recommended for you, and what they involve.
1. Routine Dental Cleaning
This type of appointment is what patients typically receive when they do not have ongoing periodontal disease. A dental hygienist would conduct an examination of your teeth and gums to begin. If no problems are found, they will use specialized dental tools to scrape away plaque and tartar from your teeth to prevent the development of periodontal disease.
Although you can remove plaque at home, there may be areas that you find are hard to reach, so your hygienist can take care of these for you. And only a dental hygienist can remove tartar – the hardened form of plaque.
2. Periodontal Maintenance
Dental instruments like a scaler or ultrasonic device can be used for a periodontal cleaning. Lasers are also commonly used in this type of appointment.
If needed, the dentist may use a local anesthetic to maintain your comfort during the procedure. Your dentist or dental hygienist will then scale your teeth, which involves the removal of plaque accumulation from your teeth. Any plaque that has accumulated in pockets found between your teeth and gums will also be cleaned at this time.
Root planning is the next step, in which your dentist or dental hygienist will smooth the roots of your teeth to prevent the accumulation of bacteria there, encouraging your gums to reattach to your teeth.
3. Full Mouth Debridement
The third type of dental cleaning is used when several years of accumulated plaque and tartar must be removed from the teeth due to a long delay between cleaning appointments. This is a more extensive procedure that takes longer than a normal dental cleaning appointment.
The dentist or dental hygienist will carefully remove plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth, exposing the surfaces beneath, looking for signs of problems found while cleaning.
The procedure helps to clean both above the gum line and beneath it. Although patients may feel that their teeth look somewhat clean, they could still have large plaque and tartar deposits under the gums that damage their oral health. These are carefully removed during a full mouth debridement.
If you have any questions feel free to contact our dental office.
DISCLAIMER: The advice offered is intended to be informational only and generic in nature. It is in no way offering a definitive diagnosis or specific treatment recommendations for your particular situation. Any advice offered is no substitute for proper evaluation and care by a qualified dentist.