Brushing and flossing at home twice a day are crucial to maintaining good oral health. Of course, those habits not necessarily enough to keep teeth and gums healthy. These do-it-yourself efforts must be supplemented with professional dental care. This includes twice-yearly visits to the dentist and prompt preventative maintenance. Teeth cleaning in California MD is part of the process, but cleaning isn’t quite the same for everyone. Various types of cleaning are available to cover a broad range of needs.
Prophylactic Cleaning
Prophylactic cleanings are standard, routine cleanings designed to remove general plaque and tartar buildups. Dentists use either conventional metal scalers, ultrasonic devices, or a combination of the two to loosen buildup. Floss will also be used to remove debris between the teeth. From there, a special type of toothpaste will be used to further remove any stains or remaining particles.
Gross Debridement
While standard cleanings every six months are used as preventative measures for people with healthy teeth and gums, some patients require more in-depth care. Those with gingivitis or early-stage periodontal disease may need a gross debridement. This type of teeth cleaning in California MD is designed to remove excessive amounts of plaque. Any pockets in the gums that may have formed will also be cleaned, and an antibiotic gel will be applied to kill bacteria and prevent infection.
Root Planing
In cases where more advanced gum disease is present, additional cleaning steps may be necessary. During root planing, dentists or periodontists smooth the surfaces of tooth roots. This process removes tartar and helps prevent further buildup and bacteria from adhering to the teeth beneath the gum line. This treatment may be used in conjunction with gross debridement. Antibiotic gels are applied afterward, and additional polishing may be performed as well.
Routine prophylactic cleanings every six months are all some people need to help maintain oral health, but others may require more in-depth care. Gross debridement may be needed more frequently than standard cleanings, and root planing may be added to the treatment regimen as well. All these measures are designed to promote dental well-being as well as overall health. A dentist would be the one to contact for dental care. If necessary, he or she may refer you to a periodontist.
