Benefits of Professional Cleanings
Hattiesburg, MS
 A professional dental cleaning is more than just a cleaning, it involves evaluating plaque buildup, spotting gum disease, and determining gum health. Developing an ongoing relationship with our hygienist is beneficial to our patients because it helps us see problems as they progress. This can help our hygienist provide more specific education in brushing and flossing techniques. At Pine Belt Periodontics, PLLC, we want to help our patients have healthier teeth and gums, and this begins with personalized care from our hygienist.
We value the knowledge and professionalism of our team, including our hygienist. The work we perform is about more than just repairing issues as they arise, it’s about providing the education, tips, and guidance our patients need to have a healthier mouth.
A dental cleaning involves multiple steps. For most of our adult patients this includes:
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Tracking and Measuring your Gum Pockets: We want to be aware of the health of your gum tissue. We do this through tracking and measuring your gum pockets. The information gathered here is elevated when a person is a repeat patient; it helps us see changes from one appointment to the next. Using a probe, we measure the depth of the gum pockets with each tooth. Patients with gum disease develop deeper pockets from the bacteria infection of periodontitis. Measurements of more than 3mm can indicate that infection is present. With new computerized voice technology, our hygienist is now able to record every measurement, not just the problem areas. Then we can note pockets that have advanced, even from 1 to 2mm since the last appointment.
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Evaluating Plaque and Tartar Buildup: Some patients develop higher levels of buildup, or they may have areas that are difficult to brush. Teeth can come with deep crevices and shaped in certain ways that food debris and plaque can get stuck. We want to take note of these areas. It’s possible that our doctor may want to consider placing sealants in these areas.
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Remove Tartar: Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has dried and hardened on your enamel. It is not something that the patient wants to remove themselves, as they can damage their enamel. It’s best to leave it to the professional.
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Scaling and Root Planing: Patients who have deep gum pockets and tartar buildup may benefit from a deep cleaning through scaling. Using an ultrasonic scaler, we are able to safely remove bacteria and tartar. This tool utilizes a directed stream of oxygenated bubbles along with a vibrating tip to thoroughly wash the surface of your enamel and below the gumline. Following this step, our hygienist will then use a hand scaler to check the areas and ensure that the unwanted material is removed. In some cases, we may then need to smooth the roots of the tooth - this is known as root planing. This smoothing process is done easily and should help your roots stay healthier going forward.
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Polishing: With the teeth now clean and free of decay causing bacteria, our hygienist finishes up with a polish. Using a gritty toothpaste and a rotary brush, we are able to remove extrinsic stains from the teeth that come from just regular use. This will brighten your smile. |
Dental cleanings are often followed with an exam by our dentist. We may discuss areas of concern or preventive treatments including a fluoride rinse or dental sealants. The health of your teeth is important to us.
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