The Periodontal Prophylaxis
The periodontal prophylaxis, or tooth cleaning, involves more than most people realize. A big , difficult to pronounce word, many people look upon prophylaxis as the annual or biannual practice of having plaque, calculus, tartar, and stains removed from their teeth--a simple, routine procedure.
A prophylaxis does remove hardened bacterial masses from the tooth. However, in a prevention-oriented dental practice, prophylaxis is actually an intricate, sensitive procedure. It helps prevent disease well and allows us to concentrate on health care rather than sick care.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria that grow on the teeth at the edges of and underneath the gums. During a prophylaxis, we remove these bacteria around the full circumference of every tooth, including the root.
Usually people think of teeth as being smooth and hard. But a look at the root surfaces through a microscope reveals tiny pits and crevices in which bacterial germs hide. To smooth the surface of the root and eliminate these hiding places, we use special instruments to perform a procedure called root planing. This makes it easier for you to clean the bacteria from your teeth at home with your dental instruments...the toothbrush, floss, and toothpick.
As we concentrate our attention on each tooth in the mouth, we are also scrutinizing the health of your gum tissue. For it is the gum tissue which exhibits the tell-tale signs that bacterial colonies may be increasing in number and activity.
Additionally, we polish your teeth to remove stains and to give them that clean, lustrous appearance. But again, what you don't see may be more important. Through polishing, we enhance the smoothness of the root surface and further reduce bacteria at the gum line.
Finally, we irrigate medications beneath the gums to flush out bacteria and food debris while creating an aseptic environment allowing for healthy gums.
A periodontal prophylaxis--it's one of our most powerful weapons against dental disease.
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