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4 Types Of Dental Cleaning You Need To Know About

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Did you know that you have thousands of naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth that thrive on the surface of your teeth, sharing the same food you eat? Gross, isn’t it? The good news is that you can remove excess bacteria from your teeth through regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings.

To prevent bacteria populations from growing and causing dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease, the American Dental Association advises individuals to visit their local dental practice once every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. Dental exams allow your general dentist to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, while professional teeth cleanings remove excess plaque and tartar. Since bacteria live in dental plaque and tartar, this process also removes large amounts of bacteria.

Depending on the amount of plaque and tartar on your teeth, your dentist will perform one of the following four types of dental cleaning services near me:

1. Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning

The word prophylaxis means “to prevent disease.” Prophylaxis dental cleanings are used to clean healthy teeth to prevent them from being affected by tooth decay or gum disease. These cleanings remove plaque and tartar from the front, back, and sides of teeth using a dental scaler or water stream. Most dental patients only require a prophylaxis cleaning, especially if they have kept up with daily dental hygiene and semi-annual dental appointments.

Benefits:

  • Prevention: Regular prophylaxis cleanings help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems.

  • Maintenance: Keeps teeth and gums healthy by regularly removing plaque and tartar buildup.

  • Early Detection: Allows for early detection and treatment of potential dental issues.

  • Fresh Breath: Regular cleanings help eliminate bad breath caused by bacteria.

2. Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning

Scaling and root planing cleanings, also known as deep cleanings, are used to clean both the teeth and gum pockets to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. Deep cleanings for gingivitis are usually completed in a single dental appointment. Deep cleanings for periodontitis, on the other hand, may require multiple appointments and local anesthetics depending on the severity. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surface and gum pockets below the gum line that form due to gum disease. Root planing smooths the tooth roots, helping the gums reattach to the teeth and eliminate gum pockets.

Benefits:

  • Gum Health: Reduces gum inflammation and treats gum disease effectively.

  • Bacteria Removal: Eliminates bacteria that cause gum disease and bad breath.

  • Prevention of Tooth Loss: Helps prevent the progression of gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss.

  • Improved Oral Hygiene: Encourages better oral hygiene habits and maintenance.

3. Periodontal Maintenance Cleaning

Periodontal maintenance cleanings are also designed to treat gum disease. Like scaling and root planing, they remove excess plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and gum pockets and smooth out the roots if needed. The main difference is that periodontal maintenance cleanings are performed more frequently. This is because gum disease is progressive and will continue to worsen if not effectively treated.

Benefits:

  • Ongoing Care: Provides regular treatment for those with a history of gum disease.

  • Disease Management: Helps manage and control the progression of periodontal disease.

  • Enhanced Oral Health: Maintains healthier gums and teeth through frequent cleanings.

  • Reduced Inflammation: Regular cleanings help reduce inflammation and discomfort in the gums.

4. Gross Debridement Cleaning

Gross debridement cleanings are the most heavy-duty of teeth cleanings, designed to clean teeth with copious amounts of plaque and tartar. These cases generally involve individuals who struggle to maintain an oral care routine or who have avoided the dentist for a significant amount of time. Since plaque hardens into tartar and large amounts of tartar are particularly hard, an electrical tool is used to loosen tartar during gross debridement cleanings. Once the excess plaque and tartar have been removed, a prophylaxis cleaning is performed to further clean the teeth.

Benefits:

  • Thorough Cleaning: Provides a comprehensive cleaning for teeth with significant plaque and tartar buildup.

  • Improved Oral Health: Drastically improves oral health for those who have neglected regular dental care.

  • Restoration: Restores teeth to a healthier state, making future maintenance easier.

  • Foundation for Further Treatment: Prepares the mouth for additional dental treatments if needed.

Conclusion

 

As you can see, there are different types of dental whitening san jose that your dentist may choose based on what they find during your dental exam. While all of these cleanings have the same basic premise, they each offer a slightly different approach based on certain situations. Now that you know the four types of dental cleanings and their benefits, only one question remains: How long has it been since your last teeth cleaning?

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