Types of professional dental cleanings

There are three basic types of procedures to remove plaque and bacteria from teeth, and treat the areas above and below the gum line. The type and frequency of the procedure you need depends on your dentist’s diagnosis.

• Prophy or Prophylaxis: Patients diagnosed with a healthy mouth and healthy gums receive a prophylaxis or healthy mouth cleaning. This procedure removes plaque on the teeth and at the gum line and is suggested every 6 months.

• Perio Maintenance: Patients who have had root planing, perio scaling, or other perio surgical treatment are then placed on a perio maintenance cleaning schedule.  This type of cleaning may also be performed by a hygienist, however, it differs from the "healthy mouth" cleaning (prophy) as it cleans above AND below the gum line which is very important to maintain perio health and must be performed more often than a prophy cleaning.

• Full Mouth Debridement: Patients who haven't had a professional dental cleaning in two years or more and/or have a great deal of "build-up" or tarter present, may require a full mouth debridement.  This type of cleaning requires additional time for the clinician and is then typically followed by a prophy depending on the condition of the gums.

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Non-surgical Perio Therapy-

• Scaling & Root Planing (a.k.a. SRP or DEEP CLEANING): Patients diagnosed with active periodontal disease cannot benefit from a healthy mouth cleaning because they require treatment above AND below the gum line. These patients generally receive SRP, a non-surgical treatment that removes build-up, smooths out exposed root surfaces and may include the application of localized antibiotics and fluoride as well.  SRP often takes several visits to complete and ongoing periodontal maintenance is prescribed at regular intervals thereafter.

Because periodontal (gum) disease is so common in adults, the standard of care for dental cleanings has changed significantly. Limiting treatment to what your insurance covers could prevent you from receiving proper dental care.  See more about "gum treatment."