Types of Dental Cleanings: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn about different types of dental cleanings such as prophylaxis & deep cleaning & how often you should get them done.

Types of Dental Cleanings: A Comprehensive Guide

The word prophylaxis means “preventing diseases”, and prophylactic dental cleanings are used to clean healthy teeth in order to prevent them from being affected by tooth decay or gum disease. Prophylactic cleanings remove plaque and tartar from the front, back and side of the teeth with a dental scraper or a stream of water. Most dental patients only require prophylactic cleaning, especially if they have maintained daily dental hygiene and have biannual dental appointments. Scraping and root smoothing cleanings, also known as deep cleanings, are used on both teeth and gum pockets to treat gingivitis and periodontitis.

Deep cleanings for gingivitis are usually done in a single appointment with the dentist. Deep cleanings for periodontitis, on the other hand, may require multiple appointments and local anesthesia, depending on the severity. Scraping is the process that removes plaque and tartar from the surface of the tooth and from the gum pockets below the gum line that form as a result of gum disease. Not only does this kill bacteria, but it also helps reduce gum inflammation.

Root smoothing is the process of smoothing the roots of the teeth, helping the gums to reattach to the teeth and remove gum pockets. Periodontal maintenance cleanings are also dental cleanings designed to treat gum disease. Like scraping and root smoothing, they remove excess plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and gum pockets, and then soften the roots if necessary. The main thing that sets periodontal maintenance cleanings apart is that they are generally performed more frequently than other types of dental cleanings.

This is because gum disease is progressive and will continue to worsen if not treated effectively. Macroscopic debridement cleanings are the most demanding dental cleanings, designed to clean teeth with large amounts of plaque and tartar. These cases are typically people who have difficulty maintaining an oral care routine or who have avoided going to the dentist for a significant period of time. Because plaque hardens and turns into tartar and large amounts of tartar are especially hard, a power tool is used to loosen the tartar during macroscopic debridement cleanings.

Once excess plaque and tartar have been removed, prophylactic cleaning is performed to further clean the teeth. Dentists like Dennis Laurich have been practicing dentistry for more than 40 years. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and regularly attends conventions on oral health care to continue his dental education. This allows him to treat patients with the most advanced dental technology and methodologies.

In addition, he is a member of the American Dental Association, the Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society. There are different types of dental cleaning procedures, and the type your dentist is likely to use depends largely on your specific oral care needs. A prophylactic cleaning is a dental cleaning procedure that is primarily used for people with a generally healthy mouth. A prophylactic cleaning is designed to perform routine maintenance, such as removing the expected amount of tartar and plaque from the surface of the teeth, the gums, and between the teeth.

For those who visit the dentist regularly and practice good oral hygiene, prophylactic cleaning is likely to be the recommended dental cleaning procedure. While people who receive prophylactic dental cleaning generally have a fairly healthy mouth to begin with, it can help people get rid of unwanted plaque and any minor stains that exist on the surface of the teeth. Root scraping and smoothing is a slightly more invasive (although not surgical) dental cleaning procedure that involves deep cleaning of the gums, the gumline, and other structures that support the teeth. Root scraping and smoothing is often recommended for people with gum diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis.

Because scraping and root smoothing involve smoothing the tooth's root surface and removing any existing tartar and plaque, it may sometimes be necessary to make several visits to the dentist. If a person hasn't visited the dentist in several years, it's likely that a good amount of plaque has built up on the gums, teeth, and between the teeth. Subsequently, macroscopic debridement is usually used, which is a deep cleaning used to remove tartar and plaque in all areas of the mouth, for people who have not visited the dentist for a while. However, not everyone who hasn't visited the dentist for a while gets serious debridement.

The first thing a dentist does is perform an oral exam. After the oral exam, they decide if routine prophylaxis (dental cleaning) is sufficient or if macroscopic debridement is needed before prophylactic cleaning. Periodontal maintenance refers to routine maintenance for people who suffer from serious oral problems. In particular, periodontal maintenance can be provided to people with gingivitis or periodontitis.

Periodontal maintenance generally includes frequent visits to the dentist to clean the entire area of ​​the mouth. It is usually done for a specific period of time or until all oral health problems are properly treated and symptoms of gum disease are fully controlled and controlled. Prophylaxis simply means an action that is used to prevent a disease; therefore prophylactic cleaning is simply preventive cleaning. This type of cleaning is commonly used for people who have good overall dental health and who simply maintain this health.

During a prophylactic cleaning, plaque and tartar are removed from all surfaces of each tooth as well as from between them. Prophylactic dental cleanings are recommended at least twice a year to keep teeth and gums healthy; however high-risk patients may need them every 3 or 4 months.