Teeth cleaning

Prophylaxis cleaning, scaling and root planing, and gross debridement are the three primary types of dental cleanings, all geared toward achieving cleaner teeth. However, they employ distinct procedures and serve different purposes.

To fully grasp the reasons behind and timing of each cleaning type, the following provides comprehensive insights.

Referred to as a routine cleaning, a prophylaxis cleaning is designed for healthy patients seeking regular maintenance to preserve oral health. Administered by a dental hygienist, this procedure involves the removal of plaque, hardened calculus, and surface stains from the teeth.

Although not suitable for severely damaged teeth, prophylaxis serves as an effective preventive measure for maintaining oral health in conjunction with daily hygiene practices.

Dentists commonly advise a prophylaxis cleaning every six months to prevent plaque accumulation and address any existing hardened plaque.

Gross debridement, a dental cleaning procedure often performed by a dentist, aims to uncover any potential dental issues that might have been overlooked initially.

Typically carried out on patients who haven’t visited the dentist in more than a year or have accumulated a considerable amount of hardened plaque on their teeth, this procedure involves a thorough removal of plaque from both the teeth and gums