What is Dental Prophylaxis?
Professional dental cleaning, also known as Prophylaxis, is performed during a dental visit where a cleaning and exam are done to help prevent cavities, gum disease, or any other infections. The medical term “prophylaxis” means prevention, as it is seen as preventative care against any oral health issues.
Prophylaxis procedure
There are different types of services that fall under the prophylaxis procedure, and not every dental appointment will include all of the offered services unless needed. That is determined based on the patient’s oral health history, age, and amount of time since the last visit to the dentist. The different services that are considered prophylaxis care would usually include:
- Dental Exams – used to check up on the overall health of the mouth and helps detect signs of cavities, gum disease, infections, or even oral cancer.
- Removing Plaque and Tartar – the technique of scaling is used to remove any plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of the tooth. It’s also done to remove stains on the visible surface of the teeth.
- Coarse Toothpaste – is used as a cleaning and polishing paste that scrubs at any remaining plaque and stains on the surface that wasn’t already removed during the scaling process.
- X-rays – done usually during the first cleaning of the year as a way to see imaging of any problems that are or could occur to the teeth. Used to see if there are any cavities between the teeth where teeth are touching. Also used to see if there are signs of bone loss in the jawbone.
- Flossing – the specialist will thoroughly floss in between each of the teeth to not only remove buildup of plaque, but also to check for bleeding and inflamed gums.
- Fluoride Treatments/ Sealants – the use of fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of the tooth as a means of preventing tooth decay. Sealants create a protective barrier on the molars and chewing teeth.
What does prophylaxis prevent?
At-home consistent oral hygiene care and dental prophylaxis visits at a consistent rate help prevent major diseases and illnesses. Ideally, they help prevent cases of:
- Cavities, also known as tooth decay, by removing the plaque from the teeth before the buildup starts to damage and decay the enamel.
- Gingivitis is a form of early-stage gum disease that causes bleeding gums.
- Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease that eventually leads to tooth loss.
- Tooth discoloration as the cleaning helps remove stains that are visible on the tooth surface, keeping the patient with a whiter smile.
- Dental infections are kept at bay since the procedures clear the buildup of plaque and bacteria that cause painful infections and abscesses.
- Mouth cancer screenings during the procedure help locate any signs of early oral cancer and come up with possible treatments to help get to a better outcome.
- Avoiding costly treatments is important to the bank account, as it is way less expensive to stick to preventative measures rather than restorative measures for damaged areas and infected areas as well.
Related Article: Periodontal Maintenance Procedure
