Teeth cleaning
In Ventura

There are three primary types of dental cleanings: prophylaxis cleaning, scaling and root planing, and gross debridement. Despite their shared objective of promoting cleaner teeth, these cleanings differ in their procedures and purposes.

To grasp when and why each type is employed, the following provides a comprehensive overview.

A prophylaxis cleaning, commonly known as a routine cleaning, is geared towards individuals with good oral health for regular maintenance. Conducted by a dental hygienist, this procedure involves the removal of plaque, hardened calculus, and surface stains from the teeth.

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

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

Known as a deep cleaning, scaling and root planing is generally recommended for patients at an elevated risk of gum disease or those already experiencing it.

The buildup of plaque, which can harden into tartar or calculus, poses a serious threat to oral health over time, leading to the requirement for scaling and root planing.

This procedure is commonly suggested for patients displaying indicators of gum disease, including bleeding gums, swelling, or loose teeth.

A dental cleaning procedure known as gross debridement is often carried out by a dentist to uncover any potential dental issues that may have been missed in the initial examination.

Typically performed on patients who haven’t seen a dentist in over a year or those with a substantial buildup of hardened plaque on their teeth, gross debridement involves a thorough removal of plaque from the teeth and gums.