In your mouth, thousands of bacteria are naturally present, living on the surfaces of your teeth. They eat the same foods you do. The great thing is that if you floss, brush and get frequent dental cleans, you’ll be able to get rid of any additional germs that may be on your teeth.
It is suggested that you visit their dentist at least every six months to have a dental exam and cleaning to stop bacteria from growing and causing dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Professional teeth cleanings will eliminate extra plaque and tartar, while dental examinations will let your dentist check the condition of your gums and teeth.
Dental Cleaning Treatments
Dental cleanings have various treatments, so knowing the differentiators between them will aid you in selecting the most effective one. It is crucial to go through your options for dental hygiene with your dentist, and knowing what each type includes can be beneficial. You can learn more here.
Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning
To “prevent disease” is what the word “prophylaxis” means. Thus, prophylactic dental cleanings are used to cleanse healthy teeth to stop tooth decay and gum disease from harming them.
Plaque and tartar are eliminated from your teeth’s front, back, and sides when you undergo prophylaxis dental cleanings by using a scaler for your teeth or a water stream. Most dental patients need a prophylaxis cleaning, especially during semi-annual dental exams and routine oral hygiene appointments. Dentistry Dunnville offers different types of dental treatments you need.
Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning
Scaling and root planning are carried out on the tooth and gum pockets to treat periodontitis and gingivitis. In most cases, deep gingivitis cleanings can be done in one visit. On the other hand, depending on the extent, deep cleanings for periodontitis might require multiple appointments as well as local anesthetics.
Scaling is a procedure to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth’ surface and the gum pockets that form under the gum line due to gum disease. This not only eliminates bacteria but also reduces gum irritation. Inflating the tooth’s root, known as root planning, aids in the reattachment process of the gums to the teeth and the elimination of gum pockets.
Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning
Dental cleanings for periodontal treatment can also be used to treat gum disease. Similar to scaling and root planing cleaning, they cleanse the surface of the tooth and gum pockets of extra tartar and plaque. They also, when necessary, smooth the root surfaces.
The most significant difference between regular dental cleanings is that they are done more frequently. This is because gum disease progresses and can only worsen if it is not treated correctly.
Gross Debridement Cleaning
The most thorough cleaning of teeth, called gross debridement, is performed to eliminate any plaque or tartar from teeth. The most common cases are those who have trouble maintaining the proper hygiene of their teeth or have put off seeing the dentist for an extended period.
During extensive debridement cleansing, tartar can be removed with an electrical instrument as tartar can harden into plaque, and vast quantities of tartar are tough to remove. The teeth are further cleaned with prophylaxis after the excess tartar and plaque are eliminated. Consult your dentist for an oral health screening.