Dental cleaning is crucial to maintaining a happy and healthy smile. As we all know, our mouth is a gateway to infinite bacteria that endanger our oral health along with our overall health. Therefore, to stop the harmful bacteria harboring in your mouth and causing dental problems and gum diseases, it is essential to undergo routine oral prophylaxis treatment.
Now, while most of you are already aware of what oral prophylaxis is, some might be experiencing elevated anxiety levels hearing that they need some dental treatment. Worry not, oral prophylaxis is neither a painful nor an invasive procedure. It includes cleaning your teeth and gums alongside a routine dental examination. To know more about what is oral prophylaxis treatment and why do you need it, keep reading!
Is prophylaxis a deep cleaning?
First, let us get familiar with this not-so-common term, oral prophylaxis. Oral prophylaxis involves a thorough clinical and radiographic oral health examination followed by dental scaling to clean off the tartar and plaque from the patient’s mouth. Your dentist or a dental hygienist can perform the scaling and cleaning of the teeth and gums. During the examinations in an oral prophylaxis treatment, the dentist will take a systematic approach to ensure that your oral cavity is in perfect health and does not require any other dental treatment except routine cleaning. Here is what the oral examination includes:
*A history of your medical and dental health. Before any treatment planning, the dentist has to ensure that there is no underlying health problem that can compromise the dental treatment or can be aggravated by it.
*The dentist first performs the clinical examination and then moves to dental X-rays to determine the things going on beneath the surface. (underneath the bone and gums)
*During the clinical examination, the dentist will also probe the gum line to check for any pocketing or gum recession. Presence of either of which indicates gum diseases.
*The dentist also checks for any anomalies, ulcers, or oral health abnormalities that can indicate oral cancer at each oral prophylaxis visit.
After determining that the patient has no dental pain or any other issue that needs immediate attention, the dentist or the dental hygienist will perform the dental cleaning procedure.
Scaling and Cleaning
Scaling and cleaning involve the removal of plaque and tartar from the oral cavity by using manual scaling tools or ultrasonic scalers to scrape them off. Usually, if the patient is a regular visitor, oral prophylaxis cleaning can be easily done with hand instruments. Plaque is an opaque sticky layer that builds up on the surface of teeth above the gum line, and if not removed by regular brushing, it turns into a rock hard layer called calculus. Plaque is the most significant source of harboring the bad bacterium. After the cleaning procedure, the teeth are polished to ensure a smooth, glossy surface.
Benefits of Oral Prophylaxis Treatment
Here are some of the benefits of an oral prophylaxis treatment:
Plaque and tartar removal – deep cleaning assures that every particle of plaque and tartar is removed even from beneath the hidden surfaces. It ensures good oral health that can be maintained at home by brushing and flossing.
Excellent aesthetics – Nobody likes yellow teeth. Imagine having to shy away from smiling with friends and family. Cleaning and polishing of teeth assure pleasing aesthetics and a great smile.
Fresh breath- Without proper and professional cleaning, the plaque buildup can compromise aesthetics and lead to a bad smell in your mouth.
Improves confidence - Many people avoid social gatherings or even sitting with their family because their teeth look bad, or whenever they talk, there is a foul odor coming from their mouth, crushing their self-esteem. To live a confident, disease-free life and smile with all your teeth, visit your dentist regularly for an oral prophylaxis treatment.
How often should you have oral prophylaxis?
It really depends on how well you maintain your oral hygiene at home. Usually, it is recommended to get the oral prophylaxis treatment done every six months. However, if you have compromised dental health or are undergoing another treatment like braces, your dentist might call you for a deep cleaning procedure every 3 months.
Why do teeth feel weird after cleaning?
Due to the plaque and tartar build-up on the gum line and lower surface of teeth, the gum starts receding. Once this layer is removed, the patient experiences slight discomfort or tooth sensitivity for a few days. However, there is nothing to worry about. Just avoid eating or drinking hot and cold food and maintain good oral hygiene practice, the problem will resolve.
In a Nutshell
The key to good oral hygiene and perfect dental health is routine dental exams and check-ups to ensure that there is nothing wrong inside the oral cavity. If you think you need an oral prophylaxis treatment, consult your dentist as they know the best for you!
