Dental Cleanings and Prophylaxis: Your Best Defense against Cavities and Plaque

The American Dental Association recommends that individuals visit their local dental practice every six months for a dental examination and dental cleaning Baltimore Maryland to stop the growth of bacteria, prevent conditions such as tooth decay, and gum disease. Regular dental check-ups will enable your general dentist to assess the condition of your teeth and gums, whereas professional teeth cleanings will eliminate any surplus plaque and tartar. Removing bacteria from dental plaque and tartar also eliminates significant quantities of bacteria.

Types of Dental Cleaning Procedures

Preventative Dental Cleaning.

The term prophylaxis is defined as preventing disease. As a result, dental cleaning Baltimore Maryland for preventative care are conducted to clean healthy teeth and thereby prevent them from developing tooth decay or gum disease. Prophylactic cleanings involve the removal of plaque and tartar from the front, back, and sides of teeth using either a dental scaler or a water stream. Most dental patients typically need a prophylaxis cleaning, provided they have adhered to their daily dental hygiene routine and attend dental check-ups at least twice a year.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Deep cleanings also referred to as scaling and root-planing cleanings are employed to treat both gingivitis and periodontitis by cleaning the teeth and gum pockets. Typically, a single dental visit is required to complete deep cleanings for gingivitis. Periodontitis dental cleaning Baltimore Maryland may necessitate multiple visits and the use of local anesthetics, depending on the level of severity. Scaling involves removing plaque and tartar from the tooth's surface and the gum pockets that develop below the gum line due to gum disease. This not only eliminates bacteria, but it also helps to decrease gum inflammation. Smoothing the tooth roots through the process of root planing enables the gums to reattach to the teeth and eliminate gum pockets.

Periodontal Maintenance Therapy:

Gum disease treatments are also dental cleaning Baltimore Maryland referred to as periodontal maintenance cleanings. Similar to scaling and root planing, they eliminate excess plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and gum pockets, and smoothen the roots when necessary. What primarily distinguishes periodontal maintenance cleanings from other dental cleanings is their frequency of performance. This is because gum disease is a progressive condition that will deteriorate further unless it is effectively treated.

Thorough Debridement Removal Cleaning:

The most intensive type of dental cleaning Baltimore Maryland are gross debridement cleanings, which are designed to remove plaque and tartar from teeth in large quantities. Individuals in these cases typically struggle to maintain an oral care routine, or they have avoided the dentist for a considerable amount of time. During gross debridement cleanings, an electrical tool is employed to dislodge tartar, which has hardened into plaque from massive quantities of tartar that are particularly difficult to break down. After the removal of excess plaque and tartar, a prophylaxis cleaning is conducted to thoroughly clean the teeth.