Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning procedure performed to thoroughly clean the teeth. Prophylaxis is an important dental treatment for halting the progression of periodontal disease.
Reasons for prophylaxis/teeth cleaning:
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Tartar removal – Tartar (calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can cause serious periodontal problems if left untreated. Even with the best brushing and flossing homecare techniques, it can be impossible to remove these buildups from gum pockets measuring in excess of 3mm.
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Aesthetics – Prophylaxis can remove some tooth stains.
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Fresher breath – The removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria improves freshness of breath and alleviates irritation.
What does prophylaxis treatment involve?
Prophylaxis is typically performed in several stages during the course of a regular dental visit:
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Supragingival cleaning – A dentist will thoroughly clean the area above the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and calculus.
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Subgingival cleaning – This is the most important step for patients with periodontal disease because the dentist is able to remove calculus from the gum pockets and beneath the gum line.
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Root planing - This is the smoothing of the tooth root by the dentist to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
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Medication - Following scaling and root planing, an antibiotic material may be placed in the gum pockets to protect against infection.
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X-ray and examination – Routine X-rays can be revealing when it comes to periodontal disease. X-rays show the extent of bone loss, and also aid in identifying areas which may need future attention.
Prophylaxis is recommended twice annually as a preventative measure, but should be performed every 3-4 months on periodontal patients. Though gum disease cannot be completely reversed, prophylaxis is one of the tools a periodontist can use to effectively halt its destructive progress.
If you have questions or concerns about prophylaxis or periodontal disease, please ask your dentist.
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