The best way to
maintain your teeth is with good oral hygiene and by having
regular checkups and cleanings (also called dental prophylaxis).
Even if you are doing a great job taking care of your teeth at
home, without a checkup there is no way to tell for sure and
early detection of problems is always preferable. For
example, fixing a cavity when it is small is much preferable to
fixing it when it is large and may need a root canal instead of
just a filling. Our experienced staff can show you proper dental
hygiene techniques and identify problems before they become
severe. Recent dental research shows that gum disease can lead
to serious health problems, so checkups and cleanings are very
important.
Teeth are covered
with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Following a meal
or snack, the bacteria release acids that attack tooth enamel.
Repeated attacks can cause the enamel to break down, eventually
resulting in cavities. Plaque that is not removed with thorough
daily brushing and flossing can eventually harden into tartar,
also called calculus. When tartar collects under the gum line
the gum tissue can become swollen or may bleed. This is called
gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal (gum) disease. Dental
cleaning involves removing any tartar built up on the teeth and
includes scaling, root planning, and polishing, and sometimes
the application of a sealant and fluoride treatments.
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Frequency
and Duration of Checkups/Cleanings
Depending
on how quickly tartar builds up on your teeth, our
dentists will recommend an appropriate interval for
visits. For most patients this is usually every six
months; for those who experience large tartar build ups,
or who have periodontal (gum) disease, this could be as
often as every three months. For patients that have
checkups and cleanings on a schedule recommended for
them, the length of a visit is usually about half an
hour. Once again, the length of a visit can be affected
by an individual patient's situation. |
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Other
Considerations
Note that
people who are prone to infections may need to take
antibiotics before any dental work, including cleaning,
is done. This includes those who have:
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Risk
factors for endocarditis, such as heart murmur or
genetic abnormality of the heart valve.
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An
impaired immune system.
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Recent
major surgery.
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Artificial
body parts, such as an artificial hip or heart
valve.
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There are
various types of cleaning, depending on the situation. |
Scaling
Scaling is the
process of removing plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces.
Hand (manual) scaling is the process of scraping buildup from
the teeth using a hand tool. This method is the best way to
remove even the smallest amount of buildup, however it can be
time consuming when there are large amounts. With the
introduction of ultrasonic cleaning, buildup can actually be
shaken loose from the teeth cutting the time to remove large
amounts drastically. Followed by hand cleaning to finish
removing the tiny bits, a relatively quick and very complete job
of scaling can be done.
Root
Planning
If good oral hygiene
is not practiced, toxins in plaque attack the gum causing it to
pull away from the tooth and form a space known as a periodontal
pocket. If this is allowed to progress the pocket fills with
plaque causing infection and damage to the tooth root. Root
planning is the process of cleaning a periodontal pocket
with a hand scaler to prevent further damage. Deep pockets that
have formed from neglect may require a local anesthetic and
several visits to treat. If after root planning the pocket does
not close up periodontal surgery may be necessary.
Polishing
Polishing is the
final step of rubbing the surface of the teeth. There are two
methods of polishing and both remove stains efficiently.
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Prophy jet
polishing works by spraying high pressured water mixed with
baking soda paste onto the surface of the teeth. Powered
water washes away the residue and plaque while the baking
soda removes stains and neutralizes acidic conditions
in the mouth.
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Rubber cup
polishing employs a low-speed hand piece with a rubber cup
tip mounted on the top. The rubber cup holds polishing paste
which has abrasive ingredients for removing stains and
fluoride for strengthening tooth enamel. The paste comes in
many pleasant flavors.
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In addition
to the usual steps of cleaning discussed above, a sealant or
fluoride treatment(s) may be recommended.
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Sealants
If necessary, a
sealant can be applied to the chewing surface of back teeth to
help prevent cavities. Sealants keep food and bacteria from
getting stuck in the rough chewing surfaces or grooves and
protect teeth from plaque.
Fluoride
If necessary a
fluoride solution can be applied directly to the teeth to help
prevent tooth decay. Depending on the situation, a series of
fluoride applications may be recommended.
