Debridements, prophies, and scalings, OH MY!
What type of dental cleaning do you need and how we customize your care!
Many patients are shocked to learn that there are different types of dental cleanings! When patients come to Longboard Dental, we perform a comprehensive evaluation to identify your needs. When assessing the gums and the bone that support their teeth, usually patients are divided into two categories:
- Where patients are more prone to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis)
OR
- Where patients are more prone to inflammation and loss of the bone that supports our teeth (periodontitis).
The process of inflammation in our mouth is related to many factors, one being the amount of plaque on our teeth. Think of plaque as the “slimy” layer on our teeth that often forms after eating. The formal term for this is biofilm. When plaque biofilm is left undisturbed (ie from not brushing, or long periods of time between cleanings), the biofilm forms and hardens in the mouth. This turns the plaque into calculus.
Calculus and plaque left on the tooth surface lead to inflammation that can cause bleeding gums and bone loss and must be removed during your dental cleaning. Studies have shown that biofilm, on average, hardens to significant calculus within 6 months, hence the frequency of basic dental cleanings. If it has been many years since your last cleaning, often a type of cleaning called a debridement is necessary to first remove calculus above the gums, and then a return cleaning and assessment to see if the calculus had caused further damage to your gum and bone.
When patients have gingivitis, sometimes the frequency of cleaning must be increased so that biofilm is more frequently removed to decrease inflammation. These patients are often times seen in 4-month intervals vs. 6.
When patients have periodontitis, often deeper cleanings are required because the inflammation and calculus has caused localized bone loss or “pocketing” around a tooth. To remove the below-the- gum calculus, our dental hygienists do a type of cleaning called “scaling.” We work with you to find ways that you can feel comfortable during this cleaning process or even be numb if you choose to!
Regardless of the category of dental cleaning you fit into, at Longboard Dental, we are committed to your care. We take an individualized, patient centered approach to providing you with the best possible experience so we can help support you and your healthy, happy smile!
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