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Understanding the differences in dental Cleanings
Routine Basic Cleaning - Prophy
A dental prophy, short for prophylaxis, refers to a professional dental procedure aimed at maintaining oral health and preventing the onset or progression of dental issues. It involves the thorough cleaning of teeth and gums by a dental hygienist or dentist. During a dental prophy, plaque, tartar, and stains that have accumulated on the teeth are carefully removed through scaling and polishing.
Scaling involves the use of specialized dental instruments to gently remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque, also known as tartar) from the surfaces of teeth, particularly around the gumline and between teeth. This process helps eliminate the bacteria and debris that contribute to gum disease and cavities.
Following scaling, the teeth are polished using a gritty toothpaste and a rotating rubber cup or brush. This polishes the tooth surfaces and removes surface stains, leaving the teeth looking smoother and brighter.
Dental prophylaxis is a routine preventive procedure that helps maintain good oral hygiene, reduce the risk of gum disease, cavities, and bad breath, and contribute to overall oral health. It is typically recommended to be performed every six months, but the frequency can vary based on an individual's oral health needs and the dentist's recommendations.
Deep Cleaning - Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing
A deep cleaning, also known as periodontal scaling and root planing, is an advanced dental procedure aimed at treating gum disease (periodontal disease) by addressing the buildup of plaque and tartar below the gumline. Unlike a regular dental cleaning, which focuses on the surfaces of teeth, a deep cleaning targets the area beneath the gums where harmful bacteria can accumulate and cause inflammation.
During a deep cleaning:
- Scaling: The dental professional uses specialized tools to carefully remove the accumulated plaque and tartar from the tooth's root surfaces, which are located below the gumline. This process helps eliminate the bacteria causing the infection and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth.
- Root Planing: After scaling, the rough spots on the tooth's root are smoothed out. This step helps prevent further bacterial growth and encourages the gums to reattach to the tooth's surface, promoting the healing of the gum tissue.
A deep cleaning is typically performed over multiple appointments, focusing on different sections of the mouth in each session. Local anesthesia may be administered to ensure patient comfort, as the procedure involves working below the gumline, where sensitivity can be higher.
Deep cleanings are recommended for individuals who have been diagnosed with gum disease, particularly if the condition has progressed beyond the early stages. By effectively removing bacteria and promoting gum healing, a deep cleaning can help prevent further gum tissue damage, bone loss, and tooth mobility that can result from untreated gum disease.
After a deep cleaning, maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine and attending regular dental checkups are crucial to prevent the recurrence of gum disease and maintain optimal oral health.
Differences Between the Two Types of Dental Cleaning
The main differences between a regular cleaning (dental prophylaxis) and a deep cleaning (periodontal scaling and root planing) lie in their scope, purpose, and the extent of treatment they provide:
- Scope and Target Area:
- Regular Cleaning: A regular cleaning focuses on the surfaces of teeth and the areas just above the gumline. It primarily involves the removal of plaque, tartar, and stains from the visible parts of teeth.
- Deep Cleaning: A deep cleaning targets areas below the gumline and the tooth's root surfaces. It addresses the buildup of plaque and tartar that has accumulated in the pockets between the gums and teeth in cases of gum disease.
- Purpose and Treatment Goal:
- Regular Cleaning: The purpose of a regular cleaning is to maintain good oral hygiene, prevent cavities, gum inflammation, and bad breath. It is a preventive measure performed routinely every six months.
- Deep Cleaning: The purpose of a deep cleaning is to treat and manage gum disease (periodontal disease). It aims to eliminate the bacteria and inflammation causing the disease by thoroughly cleaning the areas where harmful bacteria have accumulated beneath the gumline.
- Procedures Involved:
- Regular Cleaning: A regular cleaning involves scaling (removal of plaque and tartar) and polishing (smoothing and brightening tooth surfaces).
- Deep Cleaning: A deep cleaning includes both scaling and root planing. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline, and root planing involves smoothing the tooth's root surfaces to discourage further bacterial growth and aid in gum reattachment.
- Anesthesia and Discomfort:
- Regular Cleaning: Generally, a regular cleaning does not require local anesthesia and is minimally uncomfortable.
- Deep Cleaning: Local anesthesia may be used during a deep cleaning to ensure comfort since the procedure involves working beneath the gums, where sensitivity can be higher.
- Frequency:
- Regular Cleaning: Recommended every six months as part of routine preventive dental care.
- Deep Cleaning: Administered when gum disease is diagnosed and has progressed beyond the early stages. The frequency may vary based on the severity of the condition.
In summary, while both regular cleanings and deep cleanings involve the removal of plaque and tartar, their primary purposes and target areas differ significantly. A regular cleaning focuses on maintaining overall oral health, while a deep cleaning is a specialized procedure aimed at treating gum disease by addressing the deeper pockets of bacteria and inflammation beneath the gumline.
If a dental provider diagnoses the need for a deep cleaning (periodontal scaling and root planing), a regular cleaning (dental prophylaxis) may not be appropriate at that time. This is because a deep cleaning is recommended when there is evidence of gum disease (periodontal disease), which involves inflammation and bacterial buildup below the gumline.
Here's why a regular cleaning might not be suitable in the presence of gum disease:
- Targeted Treatment: Gum disease often involves the formation of pockets between the gums and teeth, where harmful bacteria accumulate. These pockets need more thorough cleaning than what a regular cleaning provides, which focuses on the visible parts of the teeth and the gumline.
- Severity of Condition: Gum disease is a progressive condition that, if left untreated, can lead to more severe problems such as bone loss, gum recession, and tooth mobility. Deep cleaning is designed to address this condition and prevent its progression.
- Thoroughness: A deep cleaning involves both scaling (removing plaque and tartar below the gumline) and root planing (smoothing the tooth's root surfaces). This comprehensive approach is necessary to treat the deeper issues associated with gum disease.
- Patient Comfort: Deep cleaning can be uncomfortable due to its invasive nature. Local anesthesia is often used to ensure patient comfort during the procedure.
- Effective Treatment: Deep cleaning is a more appropriate treatment to manage gum disease and its potential consequences. Addressing the underlying issues is crucial for preventing further damage and maintaining overall oral health.
If your dental provider diagnoses the need for a deep cleaning, it's important to follow their recommendations. They will assess the condition of your gums and teeth to determine the appropriate treatment. Once the deep cleaning is completed and your gum health improves, regular cleanings may be recommended to help maintain the health of your teeth and gums moving forward.
