Regular Cleaning

A regular cleaning, a root planing procedure and periodontal maintenance are not the same. So what are the differences?

What is a regular or standard cleaning?

A regular cleaning is known as a prophylaxis in dental terms. The American Dental Association describes a prophylaxis as scaling and polishing procedures to remove coronal plaque, calculus and stains.

Scaling means to use a dental instrument to scrape away deposits from the teeth.

An electric device, called an ultra-sonic or sonic scaler, may also be used. This scaling is performed on the part of the tooth that is exposed above the gum line - in other words, on the coronal or crown of the tooth.

Calculus is also known as tartar and is a hard, mineralized deposit, somewhat like cement, that is formed from the plaque in the mouth and the minerals in a person's saliva.

Plaque is a soft, sticky substance that forms on teeth, regardless of what types of foods are eaten, which is composed of bacteria and bacterial by-products.

A regular cleaning is recommended for persons who do not have any bone loss, periodontal disease, or infection around their teeth. There should also be no bleeding, mobility of teeth, receded areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth, or gaps where the spaces n around the roots of the teeth are exposed. In '" III other words, the mouth should be healthy, with no gum and bone problems.

How often do I need to have my teeth cleaned?

The old system of everyone having their teeth cleaned only twice a year has fallen out of favor. In fact, many believe that the idea actually came from the recommendations of a 1940 toothpaste advertisement!

While some people may be able to maintain their dental health with semi-annual cleanings, many patients find that their mouths and teeth stay in better shape when they have their teeth cleaned more frequently. Many dentists and hygienists are now setting up a patient's cleaning schedule based on their personal needs. This may be as often as four times a year.

My insurance pays for teeth cleaning twice a year.

Why should I have it done more often?

Dental insurance isn't really insurance (a payment to cover the cost of a loss) at all. It is actually a money benefit, typically provided by an employer, to help their employees pay for routine dental treatment. The employer usually buys a plan based on the amount of the benefit and how much the premium costs per month. Most benefit plans are only designed to cover a portion of the total cost of a person's necessary dental treatment.

For example, a dentist may recommend a crown for a tooth that has extensive decay, however, the dental plan may only cover the cost of a filling. This does not mean that the patient does not need a crown, only that the benefit is limited to a filling.

While a twice yearly insurance payment toward the cost of teeth cleaning is common, that type of payment arrangement actually has no relationship to what any patient might really need. Many patients need cleanings more frequently. People who have heavy plaque and tenacious calculus buildup are prime candidates. Also people who are generally healthy but have certain types of systemic conditions, such as diabetes, or those taking specific medications, may require more frequent cleanings. The good news is that with the help of dental benefits, the amount you have to pay is reduced!

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