Preventive care

ROUTINE PROPHYLAXIS (DENTAL CLEANING) AND EXAM
Routine dental cleanings are recommended every 6 months.  At these visits your dentist and dental hygienist will evaluate your overall oral health and identify any problem areas.  Dental radiographs (x-rays), will be used to aid in the detection of decay, tartar, bone loss, cysts, and tumors.  All tooth surfaces will be evaluated for decay and existing restorations will be examined as well.  Your gum tissue and bone level will be assessed for any signs of periodontal disease.
During your routine prophylaxis your dental hygienist will use special tools to scale remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from above and below the gum line.  Your hygienist will also polish the surfaces of your teeth to remove any biofilm or stain.  Flossing is the final step to ensure that all surfaces are clean and free of debris. 
 
SCALING AND ROOT PLANNING
If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, your dentist will recommend that treatment begins with scaling and root planning to rid tooth surfaces of tartar and biofilm.  This procedure is usually done in half mouth or quadrant sections and you will be numbed with a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort.
Your dentist or dental hygienist will use specialized tools to remove tartar deposits that have formed deep below and above the gum line.  Periodontal probing will be done to measure (in millimeters) the space between the tooth and surrounding gums.  Healthy gums are attached tightly to the tooth and will have shallow measurements of 1-3mm.  Diseased gums will swell and detach from the tooth yielding measurements of 4mm or greater.  Measurements will be taken once a year to monitor any changes in tissue health.
 
PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE CLEANINGS
Once a patient has been diagnosed with periodontal disease and has been treated with scaling and root planning, a periodontal maintenance cleaning will be performed.  These will be done every 3-4 months to monitor and maintain the patient’s tissues and to halt disease progression.  In addition to these maintenance cleanings, it is important for patients to practice excellent oral home care by brushing twice daily for 2 minutes and by flossing daily.  Tobacco cessation will also aid in the healing of tissues and will slow disease progression making it easier for patients to maintain.