Dentists recommend different types of dental cleanings to aid in the prevention and/or treatment of dental cavities and/or gum disease. Your dental professional will assess your mouth and recommend the right cleaning for your individual case, as well as the ideal interval for your regular cleanings. 

For people with healthy teeth and gums, your dentist may recommend prophylaxis cleanings using fine hand instruments, as well as an ultrasonic scaler and a polishing cup and paste if there are no signs of gum disease. Generally, a good candidate for prophylaxis should have firm, pink gums with no bleeding or gum pockets over 3mm. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends these cleanings every as part of your preventative dental care to maintain optimal dental health and minimize the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Full Mouth Debridement 

Prophylaxis should be performed every six months, though some people may require more frequent cleanings depending on their risk factors. In addition, there are some cases where prophylaxis may not sufficiently clean your teeth. If you haven’t been to the dentist in more than a year, heavy plaque and tartar (calculus) may build-up on your teeth. 

A full mouth debridement using hand tools and a micro-ultrasonic scaler can be recommended to remove the plaque and calculus from your teeth and gums, and restore the health of your mouth. This procedure is typically performed before an oral examination and diagnosis to ensure good visibility of the actual condition of your mouth

Scaling and Root Planing and Periodontal Maintenance 

If you’re suffering from gum disease, your dentist may recommend deep cleaning, which is also known as scaling and root planing. This procedure is for patients who exhibit signs of periodontal disease, such as deeper gum pockets (over 3mm), inflammation and bleeding gums, accumulation of plaque and tartar below the gumline, and/or loss of bone tissue supporting the teeth. 

Following your treatment for advanced gum disease, which is a chronic condition, your dentist will recommend periodontal maintenance, which is a specialized cleaning that should be done every 8 – 12 weeks as part of your periodontal treatment followup to reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence. 

Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Today Receiving dental cleaning is a great way to keep your teeth and gums healthy as a preventive treatment, or as a treatment for gum disease. Please visit your dentist to discuss your dental cleaning in Chicago IL today.