Your Dartmouth Invisalign® Provider
If you take the time to learn about the different kinds of dental cleanings available to you at your dentist's office, you will be able to better communicate with your dentist and work to maintain your oral health. Dentists at our Dartmouth offices explain how each sort of dental cleaning procedure is carried out.
Different Types of Dental Cleanings
Two times a year, you should visit your dentist for a teeth cleaning in order to help maintain your teeth and to make sure that no major oral health concerns have arisen in your mouth.
However, did you know that your dentist may actually us a number of cleaning techniques depending on your smile's health needs?
When you understand the different options you have for dental cleanings treatments depending on your needs, you'll be able to better understand what your dentist is speaking about as well as the steps required to maintain your oral health and your smile's appearance.
Prophylaxis Cleaning
A prophylaxis cleaning is a routine kind of dental cleaning meant to remove a specific amount of tartar and plaque from the surface of your teeth, between each of your teeth and on your gums. This kind of cleaning is most commonly performed on patients who have a healthy smile and who practice good oral hygiene at home. This cleaning can also remove surface stains from your smile.
This cleaning will most likely be performed at one of your regularly scheduled dental appointments. It is also usually performed by a dental hygienist, but your dentist has the skills and knowledge to perform a prophylaxis cleaning too if need be.
Gross Debridement
If you haven't seen a dentist in a long time, you're likely to have a significant amount of plaque buildup on and between your teeth, as well as on your gums and tongue. A thorough debridement, also known as a deep cleaning, is a procedure that eliminates plaque and tartar from all areas of your mouth.
Your dentist will take a look at your mouth the determine whether or not a gross debridement cleaning procedure is necessary. If your smile requires this kind of cleaning procedure, the debridement will be carried out before administering a normal prophylaxis cleaning.
Scaling and Root Planing
Patients suffering from gum disorders such as gingivitis or periodontitis are frequently recommended this more intrusive, non-surgical teeth cleaning method.
Your dentist will do a thorough cleaning of your gums, gum line, and any other tissues that support your teeth. It may take many dental sessions to finish the cleaning since they need to smooth out the surface of your tooth root as well as remove any plaque and tartar that has formed on it.
Periodontal Maintenance
Patients who suffer from common oral health concerns such as gingivitis or periodontitis will usually require periodontal care in order to keep these illnesses under control and prevent them from progressing.
These individuals will often require more than one visit over a specific length of time until all of their oral health concerns have been addressed before their dentist can thoroughly clean their whole smile.
These individuals often require many visits over a specific length of time or until all oral health concerns have been addressed in order for the dentist to thoroughly clean their whole mouth.