Regular flossing and tooth brushing with usual toothpaste cannot help in eliminating certain bacteria. In some cases, brushing does not affect the tartar or plaque accumulated on teeth at all. Remember, unattended bacteria left within multiple gaps release toxins that are indirectly responsible for bleeding of gums and making them puffy, red.
Dentists use special tools, including laser, and liquid solutions to remove the accumulated stuff. Besides regular, there are several types of advanced cleaning treatments recommended by dentists. After conducting a thorough check-up, your oral care expert would recommend the most suitable type of dental cleansing procedure for keeping your teeth in shape. Oral health experts advise patients to opt for the same at least once in six months.
There are several types of teeth cleaning procedures that are performed according to the patient’s oral health condition.
Debridement
Unfortunately, some patients visit their dentist’s clinic only when the calculus and plaque buildup turns stubborn. A layer of sticky stuff forms around their teeth and gums. Thus, before even examining the teeth, dentists need to perform debridement procedure and remove this layer. Most of the dentists perform debridement at least four to six weeks before the usual cleaning process.
Put simply; the procedure needs to be performed before evaluation and cleaning. Dentists often find such hardened plaque on the teeth when the concerned patient opts for a check-up after a gap of a year or more.
Removal of supragingival plaque allows the dental hygienist to evaluate the condition of the affected tooth surface and gums.
Depending on the type of plaque and calculus layer, some gums may develop tenderness for a few days after the treatment. Dentists prescribe pain management medications to such patients.
Routine cleaning
Routine or primary teeth cleaning procedure is recommended in case if there’s no bleeding, no bone loss and the patient is not suffering from gum disease but needs cleaning to get rid of plaque. Performed by a dental hygienist, it is also known as prophylaxis cleaning. Teeth surface becomes clean after the treatment as stains and calculus are removed.
Dental care experts suggest patients opt for prophylaxis cleaning once every six months. It is not recommended for individuals with severely damaged denticle. While at the dental clinic, the affected tooth enamel can also be polished if required.
What is deep cleaning?
Scaling and root planing process is also referred to as deep cleaning. The procedure involves removing tartar and plaque accumulated within the pockets between gums and teeth. Experts use scaling tools and advanced ultrasonic apparatus to remove these layers. The dentist may administer local anesthetic to help the patient in easing uncomfortable and unpleasant feeling if he or she has dental phobia.
Deep cleaning process halts the degradation and helps in re-forming the missing seal of gums around the affected teeth. The healing procedure may require six to eight weeks.
Depending on the condition of the affected gums and tooth surface, the entire procedure may require the patient to visit the dental office two or more times. It is recommended for patients suffering from moderate to severe gingivitis or periodontitis.
Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning
To select the best option between regular and deep cleaning procedure, your dentist would check the space between gums and teeth for pockets or signs of its formation. At times, X-rays might be required to check the extent of the damage. In case of presence of pockets that are more than 3 millimeters deep (pocket reading), the expert would recommend further treatment, including surgery that might be needed along with cleaning, depending on the extent of the damage.
Periodontal cleaning
As the name signifies, it is a specially designed cleaning treatment for patients suffering from periodontal disease and needs to be performed once in every three months.
Compared to other types of cleansing, periodontal maintenance is intensive and involves deeper cleaning to ensure there are no periodontal “pockets” left unattended. Some dentists prefer to perform the same after scaling and root planing session.
What are the benefits of teeth cleaning?
Opting for a professional dental cleaning at a dental office can help prevent cavities, stop tooth loss, brighten your smile, freshen your breath, and boost your overall health. Experts also recommend deep cleaning teeth before opting for any cosmetic dentistry procedures.
The routine dental cleansing procedure needs just around 45 minutes. It is also tagged as one of the most crucial preventive dentistry processes that offer numerous benefits to patients from all age groups. Studies have already proved that dental cleaning can help in detecting life-threatening medical conditions, including oral cancer, during their early stage and help in reversing them.
After a professional cleaning session, the patient needs to continue brushing twice a day and flossing for maintaining good oral hygiene. Dentists also recommend mouthwashes containing antibacterial ingredients like chlorhexidine to control gingivitis further.
How often is dental cleaning recommended?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data indicates that around 34 percent of the US’s population skips annual dental check-up. People simply avoid sitting on the dental chair due to some reason or the other.
Dental offices recommend a basic check-up and cleaning at least once every six months. However, as mentioned earlier, patients suffering from severe gum infections may require cleaning once every three months.
What about insurance claim?
Most insurance companies pays at different percentage for different types of cleaning.Thus, patients should consider getting in touch with their insurance company and check how much compensation they should expect.
It is always advisable to opt for an experienced dentist when it comes to diagnosis of periodontitis.
If you are looking for a trustworthy dental office in Roswell (GA) for a check-up and dental cleansing, TruCare Dentistry can be the right option for you. Dr. Toral Ardeshna and her team of experts would help you find the best possible treatment and save your smile.