Are There Different Types of Dental Cleanings?

The American Dental Association recommends that people visit the dental office once every six months for dental cleaning and checkups to discourage bacteria colonies from developing and causing dental problems like tooth cavities and gum disease. Professional dental cleanings will eliminate plaque, while dental examinations will enable your general dentist to assess the condition of your teeth and gums. This article covers the different types of dental cleaning.

Types of dental cleanings

The dentist will complete any of the following dental cleanings, depending on the teeth’s condition:

Prophylaxis dental cleaning

Prophylaxis means disease prevention. As a result, the dentist performs prophylaxis dental cleanings to clean healthy teeth and prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Prophylaxis cleanings involve using a dental scaler or a water stream to clear plaque and tartar around the teeth. Most dental patients only need a prophylaxis cleaning, particularly if they practice regular oral hygiene and go for biannual dental appointments.

Scaling and root planing

Also called deep cleaning, scaling and root planing involves cleaning the teeth and gum pockets as a treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis deep cleanings only require a single dental visit. On the other hand, periodontitis deep cleanings can necessitate multiple appointments and local anesthetics, depending on the extent of the disease.

Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the teeth surface as well as the gum pockets that may have developed under the gum line due to gum disease. This not only eliminates bacteria but also aids in the reduction of gum inflammation. Root planing involves smoothing the tooth roots, which aids in the reattachment of the gums to the teeth and the elimination of gum pockets.

Periodontal maintenance

The dentist treats gum disease with periodontal maintenance cleanings. They scrape accumulated plaque and tartar away from the teeth and gum pockets before smoothing out the roots if necessary, just like scaling and root planing. The biggest difference between periodontal maintenance cleanings and other dental cleanings is that they are typically done more often. The reason is that gum disease is progressive and can worsen without proper treatment.

Gross debridement cleaning

Gross debridement cleanings are the most thorough of teeth cleanings, intended to remove large quantities of plaque and tartar from teeth. Individuals who fail to keep an oral hygiene regimen or who have not visited the dentist in a long time fall into this category. During gross debridement cleanings, an electrical tool is used to loosen tartar because plaque hardens into tartar and massive volumes of tartar are particularly difficult to remove. After the residual plaque and tartar are cleaned off, the teeth are cleaned using a prophylaxis method.